Posted on 01/01/2014 7:47:00 AM PST by Rusty0604
A woman has filed suit against the police department that injured her arm during her arrest and then ignored her increasingly poor medical state — eventually costing her an arm.
Needham claimed that police surprised her while she was in the bathroom, tasered her and applied arms bars and wrist locks...
Needham spent one week in Allegheny County Jail, during which she asked to see a doctor 16 times. Belatedly, she was taken to a hospital, where doctors amputated her arm at the elbow.
Needham had a minor criminal record. Earlier this year, she plead guilty to resisting arrest, simple assault and disorderly conduct.
The lawsuit alleges cruel and unusual punishment, excessive force, battery and negligence. Needham is seeking $75,000 in damages.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailycaller.com ...
IMO its because some ‘conservatives’ refuse to hold law enforcement responsible. Either because they are part of law enforcement or work closely with them. They see the difficulties the work entails and are willing to overlook any “minor” infractions for the greater good.
Why did they need a swat team to arrest this woman? Because they had a swat team and have to use it in order to justify its expense.
Some cop(s) were angry at this woman and decided to make her suffer. Probably not intending on maiming her but thats what happened do to their lack of action.
Because it doesn’t really matter whether the handcuffs caused the problem. All that really matters is whether she had both arms when she was arrested and whether medical care could have prevented the loss.
My speculation is that she was a real problem child during the arrest and fought, spit and cursed in resisting which ticked the cops off. She did something to p*** the cops off. That doesn't excuse the cops actions for a second in this case. They are supposed to be professionals and are supposed to deal with it, suck it up and just do their jobs.
According to the sheriff, she was in the bathroom when the deputies arrived. Interesting, CC, how you don’t approve of any speculation on the part of the officers treatment of an arrested person, but have all sorts of speculation on the behavior of the suspect. The sheriff’s not making any more statements now, because he’s named in the lawsuit.
I don't know what you're talking about. I never said anything about speculating on the officer's conduct and I also said that conduct was wrong. IF someone offered some reasonable speculation regarding the officer's conduct which would put it in a different light I'd certainly be willing to listen.
What justification is there for refusing medical care?
None at all.
Interesting to see someone with medical experience say compartment syndrome cannot result in the loss of a limb. I’m not a medical professional with years of training nor have I passed any medical boards.
However every single reference I can find on the web, many from sources appearing to be fairly reputable indicate loss of limb, nerve damage, and even death are possible outcomes from this condition.
Perhaps I’ve confused your comments with another posters.
how can I argue with what has been reported in longitudinal studies? My point if you would bother to READ what I said is that amputation is not the procedure ti deal with compartment syndrome. The first line of medical care would be reduction which is indeed surgical but it is not amputation.
Why don’t we all wait until this goes to trial so we can find out more facts rather than just jumping to the conclusion that the police are at fault. Sometimes there are folks out there that will blame all of their misfortunes on someone else
I am not okay with violations of any of my rights. Nor am I willing to jump on the blame the police for everything band wagon. There may come a time when I will change my mind but I have not yet
“Because it doesn’t really matter whether the handcuffs caused the problem. All that really matters is whether she had both arms when she was arrested and whether medical care could have prevented the loss.
illogical at best
I did not say cannot. Lord I wish you people had some reading comprehension training…. my comments were simply that compartment syndrome is itself not treated by amputation…. a reduction is the medical procedure for acute cases (which though not rare are uncommon)…. amputation is a rare result of such cases and comes from the necrosis of the surrounding tissues….it is secondary.
I am done FR has a bunch of police hating folks who only hate the medical profession more. My question to you is why not wait until the trial occurs and we get the facts before jumping to an immediate the police are at fault conclusion???
Plus the fact to cite the most dreaded result from a medical source on line is really not what medicine is about. My guess is your boards (for whatever license you were going after) did not even cover compartment syndrome.
Not really, because once they have custody of her they are responsible. If she needs medical care they are required to provide it.
Ah so you are parsing words and now attempting double speak to worm your way out of a corner.
Of course compartment syndrome isn’t “treated” with amputation. Amputation is a possible outcome if compartment syndrome isn’t treated, which is the case here. Its a treatment for the infection and necrosis caused by the compartment syndrome.
So run away doc, you appear to be nothing more than a quack who makes excuses for other incompetents. The police are at fault because she was in custody when this occurred.
So again you are saying that compartment syndrome cannot lead to tissue damage which would require amputation?
So when mayo clinic says “loss of limb” that doesn’t mean amputation?
The woman lost her arm while being detained. She made 16 requests for a doctor, and then a week later, her arm is amputated. Who deserves the blame for that?
You said more than that. You flat out said the amputation was not the caused by the cuffs or the arrest =>
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Medically the amputation has nothing to do with her being cuffed and put in jail. (post #13)
this woman’s amputation was not due to being hand cuffed. (post #15)
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So explain how you can make such conclusions, 'doc'.
Good catch Ken. I guess you were not supposed to remember those very definite declarations made in posts #13 and 15.....
Of course. But what I was wondering was there was some previous condition that resulted in this loss. Was she using 'krokodil' ?
Since , over the years, there have been many people who were left in tight handcuffs (or those nylon tie straps) for a long time, how many lost a limb due to it ? Even John McCain didn't loose his arms.
I suggest that we don't know 'all the story'.
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