Posted on 02/24/2015 7:54:55 AM PST by redreno
One pill. I lost my son over one pill.
On the first Saturday in January this year, my son arrived at the Allegheny County Jail in Pennsylvania. On Monday – not long after midnight – he was declared dead by Mercy Hospital. If the guards and the Corizon staff (a for-profit correctional healthcare company) at the hospital had been willing to provide him with the medicine that he needed to stay alive, he would not have died.
You see, my son had seizures. The last major seizure he had was so bad that he bit off a piece of his own tongue. It scared him, and he took his medicine religiously, twice a day. He knew when a seizure was coming, and it took a few hours for it to come on. So when he was locked up, the Corizon staff listed the medications he needed to take, and when he needed to take them, on the intake form provided to jail authorities.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
Maybe he should have earned an honest living instead.
Just a thought.
Look, I don’t care if someone is in prison or not ... if one is prevented from “taking care of themselves” by being incarcerated, then they better take care of them. I mean ... ANYONE ... can be locked up for 72 hours, even if you’re not guilty of a thing. You can be dead in 72 hours.
If someone “deserves to die” (like I see some say here ... and indeed some are under a death penalty) ... then they will need to keep them healthy until they are executed by the state.
That’s just the way it’s gotta be!
Two thoughts on this. First I doubt a government run facility would have treated him any better and second, there went the “healthcare savings” they prison promised the government as this is gonna cost ‘em.
I fear that this is not an isolated case.
What part of ‘Cruel and Unusual Punishment’, and ‘Innocent until proven guilty’ don’t you understand?
He was in jail...he hadn’t even gone to court. Would you want to be prevented from receiving life saving treatment if the local cops decided to charge you with a crime?
Probably not ... and it’s unfortunate ... if not downright criminal (no matter if one is dealing with “criminals” who are incarcerated).
One of the occupational hazards of being a drugdealer.
Maybe he should have earned an honest living instead.
Just a thought.
...
True, but he hadn’t gone to trial yet, and he didn’t receive a death sentence. I’d like to hear the other side of the story, but the government is responsible for inmates’ healthcare.
I have someone who is incarcerated in IL for many years, and the healthcare they receive is generally abominable. The horror stories are abundant.
Trial run for ObamaCare.
Rule #1. Don’t get caught nor in a position to go to jail nor prison.
(2)He was in prison because he did not receive bail, not because his innocence on this particular charge was already decided.
That power and duty is coupled with the responsibility of providing for the basic needs of those who are incarcerated - including the food, clothing, shelter, medicines and basic medical treatment necessary to try to prevent them from becoming seriously ill or dying while in custody.
Somebody at the jail screwed up, and somebody at the jail needs to be held accountable.
Spot-on! Exactly.
“and second, there went the ‘healthcare savings’ they prison promised the government as this is gonna cost ‘em.”
Hurt/kill the inmates and company loses, from the contract to civil court fines. . .
I would have a good attorney, and I would be released on my own recognizance very quickly.
You see, I have never been arrested. Unlike the subject of this article, i do not have multiple felony convictions.
You understand that this is his mommy’s take on the situation, right?
You appear to be saying that poor people are guilty until proven innocent. Is that what you believe?
PS - The young man was in jail, not prison.
And I believe everyone one of those stories. . .told by convicts, as we know they don't lie or exaggerate. . .especially when it comes to their treatment while in jail/prison.
Not saying your friend has, but convicts are well-known for inventing stories to set the stage for law-suites and such. . .
Where I practice, health care for jail inmates is also abominable. This is a small town but there have been several close calls. Some medicines the jail just refuses to administer.
If they lock you away against your will they have an obligation to care for your basic needs.
A lot of corrections officers and low level beaureucrats are no better than the inmates.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.