Donald Ashby Dies on Day 11 in Kaufman County Jail
Donald Wayne Ashby, age 58, was booked into Kaufman County Jail at 1900 E US Hwy 175 in Kaufman, TX 75142 on April 6, 2024. He was pronounced deceased only 11 days later on April 17. The Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office under the direction of Sheriff Bryan W. Beavers filed a custodial death report (CDR) about Mr. Ashby on April 22, 2024. The CDR said that just before his death, Mr. Ashby was being monitored by the medical staff for possible heroin withdrawal. Mr. Ashby’s cause of death is unknown and pending the results of an autopsy.
Recommended Jail Withdrawal Protocols
In 2023, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) joined forces with the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) to provide a groundbreaking document entitled “Guidelines for Managing Substance Abuse Withdrawal in Jails.” The need for something like this was undeniable. Many times, detainees enter county or municipal jails and die within hours or a few days due to withdrawals, though autopsies don’t always prove out that common sense conclusion.
The document makes it clear that suffering and death from drug and alcohol withdrawal are preventable. Included with valuable information that can be implemented to save countless lives is a strategy for improving access to lifesaving medication for opioid use. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that can be 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Over 150 people in the U.S. die daily from drug overdoses related to fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.
COWS is a Tool That Can Help With Opioid Withdrawal
The Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS) is designed for administration by a clinician. It has 11 items that will help determine the severity of opioid withdrawal and assess a person’s level of physical dependence on opioids. The scale involves a number rating of various symptoms, including resting pulse rate, sweating, tremors, pupil size, joint or bone aches, and more. In addition to being tested in this way, detainees suspected of drug or alcohol withdrawal should be monitored by a qualified healthcare professional every 4 hours for the first 72 hours in a jail facility.
Jail Staff and Staff Training
Among the recommendations for implementing withdrawal protocols that save lives is that the jail staff receive pertinent training. As a basic, the first aid course for jail staff members should include managing overdose (checking respirations, administering naloxone, and positioning the patient to avoid aspiration) and managing seizures (i.e. preventing head trauma) until emergency medical services (EMS) arrive.
Supportive Care for Detainees in Withdrawal
In news articles that expose alleged jail medical neglect after supposedly apparent withdrawal deaths, jail staff is often portrayed as utterly indifferent to individuals experiencing drug or alcohol withdrawal. This BJA document urges that jail staff provide supportive care. This includes minimizing environmental stimulation by reducing noise levels and dimming lights. When available, house inmates experiencing withdrawal together.
Detainees in withdrawal often vomit and have diarrhea. Maintaining fluids is essential because electrolyte imbalances and dehydration can severely affect health consequences. Qualified healthcare professionals should monitor such inmates for signs and symptoms of dehydration, among other recommendations.
Who to Call for Help with a Death Caused by Jail Neglect
Individuals do not lose their civil rights when they are incarcerated. If you suspect that your loved one died in a U.S. jail as a result of jail medical neglect, contact the Law Offices of Dean Malone without delay. We have a team that is dedicated to handling custodial deaths. We also represent former jail detainees who suffered a life-altering injury while incarcerated. Call today, text, or fill out our online form. We are sincere in our concern about inmates’ rights and, therefore, we are available 24/7.
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