The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is not naming its sources at the VA because they could be fired for speaking out. Both spoke on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly about individual medical records or the internal investigation.
Patterson, 24, was discharged from the U.S. Coast Guard in January. The VA has not acknowledged if he was being treated at the Atlanta VA.
According to one source and a copy of the appointments reviewed by the AJC, Patterson had two mental health appointments in March: the first was in-person and the second was a video call. He had two more appointments in April: one in-person appointment, which he never showed up to, and a final in-person meeting with VA medical workers on Thursday.
The source said Patterson’s medical records showed his mother, Minyone Patterson, came with him to that final appointment, asking specifically for an Ativan prescription for her son. Ativan is used to treat anxiety and insomnia, among other uses.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Minyone Patterson said her son wanted Ativan but his Veterans Affairs medical team declined to give it to him, fearing he could become addicted. The source told the AJC that Patterson was instead prescribed another drug, Buspirone, which also treats anxiety.
The highest levels of Veterans Affairs are examining whether there were any gaps in mental health care for a veteran who is accused of killing one woman and injuring four others in a Midtown medical office, according to a source with knowledge of the talks.
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