Parents Speak Out After Narcotics Used to Treat PTSD

Parents move son out of Tomah VA, but he later dies in Milwaukee 
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin calls for criminal investigation into Tomah VA
WISN News
By Terry Sater
Feb 13, 2015

MILWAUKEE —Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin is now calling for a criminal investigation into the VA Medical Center in Tomah.

She points to concerns about the use of prescription drugs and the deaths of three veterans, one of whom died in downtown Milwaukee.

“He was in Iraq in 2004, 2005, and he came back not the same kid that he was when he left,” Lorraine Ward said.

Lorraine and John Ward's son, Jacob Ward was an Iraq war veteran who served as an Army scout.

“He saw things that were just horrible there that he could never get over,” Lorraine Ward said.

Jacob Ward died drug addicted and alone at the Berkshire Apartments in Milwaukee.

“That was the worst day of my life,” John Ward said.

The Wards point a finger at the VA Medical Center in Tomah. That's where Jacob Ward was first treated for post-traumatic stress disorder with narcotics.

The facility is now under investigation for excessive use of prescription painkillers. The Wards also questioned how narcotics were used, and they had Jacob moved to the VA Medical Center in Milwaukee.
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Parents say son asked them to intervene in his treatment at Tomah VA
Jason Simcakoski, 35, died of mixed drug toxicity
WISN News
Mike Gousha
Feb 10, 2015

Jason Simcakoski, 35, died of mixed drug toxicity Aug. 30 at the Tomah VA Medical Center. An autopsy report said that 14 different medications were in his system at the time of his death.

All of them were prescribed by VA physicians.

"He was proud of being a Marine," said Marv Simcakoski, Jason's father. "Proudest thing he's done in his life."
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