An Inmate’s Death Was Allegedly Caused by Gross Medical Neglect

One of the most recent complaints about the healthcare provider in a county jail outside Texas was in the news this week. It had been determined by the Medical Examiner that the cause of death of an inmate who died at that jail was sepsis. Several of the inmate’s organ systems failed, and the inmate went into septic shock. The coroner ruled that the inmate died as a result of gross medical neglect.

Allegations against the healthcare provider include the following:

• The medical staff failed to administer medications for the treatment of mental health problems.
• There was a complete failure of the medical staff to intervene when the inmate’s health continued to decline.
• The staff did not intervene when the inmate began eating his own excrement.
• The medical staff did not transfer the inmate to an outside medical facility in a reasonable and appropriate amount of time.
• Before he finally went to the hospital before his death, it was recommended twice that he be admitted into the hospital on two occasions. The second time the recommendation was made was nine days before jailers found the inmate unresponsive in his cell.

The healthcare provider released a statement saying that the severe staffing crisis at the jail hindered the ability of the medical staff to provide adequate care for the inmates. Approximately 40% of the detention center staff positions are vacant. The sheriff denied the allegations.

Learn more in Part 1 and Part 2 of this continuing series.

Helping Texas jail detainees and their families with resources is one of the purposes of this website. There is no intention of suggesting that people or organizations have been involved in misdeeds.

–Guest Contributor