Joni Ernst
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) has called for an update on the investigation into an Iowa combat veteran who committed suicide in July after claiming that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) had turned him away.
Ernst requested an update on the open investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Brandon Ketchum, a 33-year-old veteran from Bettendorf, Iowa, in a letter to VA Inspector General Michael Missal.
“I continue to be dismayed that Mr. Ketchum’s request to be admitted for inpatient services was not taken seriously, and believe that his death was an unnecessary casualty of a VA system that still allows our veterans seeking help to slip through the cracks,” Ernst wrote.
Ernst has written several letters seeking an investigation into Ketchum’s death.
“We simply cannot continue to operate with a business as usual attitude when 20 of our brave service men and women are committing suicide every single day,” Ernst said. “Since my letter on July 15, 118 days have gone by. Therefore, I again write to you requesting an update and prompt response regarding the investigation of the Iowa City VA Medical Center’s apparent failure or refusal to properly treat Mr. Ketchum.”
Ernst added that she expects a written explanation from Missal’s office about steps being taken to prevent tragedies like Ketchum’s death from happening in the future.