Iowa Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst have joined Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin in urging officials with the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Veteran Affairs to review the case of a combat veteran who committed suicide after seeking help at the Iowa City Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. It was reported that 33-year-old Brandon Ketchum was denied admittance to a psychiatric ward after seeking help during a mental health crisis. Ketchum, a native of Wisconsin, was a veteran of the Marine Corps and Army National Guard and residing in Davenport. On July 7, according to a post on social media, he believed he was a threat to his own safety and sought treatment. The senators wrote in their appeal for an inquiry that, “Despite his year-long treatment with a psychiatrist at the facility that knew of his struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder as well as repeated flags for suicide over the last three years, his request to be admitted to the psychiatric ward due to what was termed ‘serious mental health issues’ was reportedly denied. Mr. Ketchum took his own life just over 24 hours later.” A representative for the medical center has stated the policy is to never turn away a patient who requires admittance as long as beds are open. Even if beds at the Iowa City facility are unavailable, the spokesperson explained, the VA would find the patient a bed at another facility.
