Inmate Medical Neglect is a Widespread Problem Continued

Other stories of alleged neglect in Texas county jails are seemingly related to healthcare providers who save money by denying medical care. One man had a serious eye injury while he was in county jail in Texas, and he did not receive the medical care he requested. As a result, he became partially blind. Another inmate did not receive medical care for an acute Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. He suffered from extreme swelling of the hands and feet, blindness, uncontrolled vomiting, nausea, and high fever.

In one jail in Texas, the health care for inmates was markedly improved when the jail spent the funds necessary to make that happen. On-site medical care became available around the clock and dialysis equipment was kept in the facility 24/7. Still, allegedly preventable deaths have occurred. For example, a homeless man arrested on a misdemeanor charge died from acute pneumonia.

Ultimately, some watchdog groups are determined to fight for better healthcare standards because they believe many inmates are now deceased simply because they got sick in a jail. If they hadn’t been incarcerated, those inmates would probably still be alive.

One of the most frustrating things is that enforcement of providing medical care at a certain minimum jail standard is nonexistent.

Learn more in Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, and Part 6 of this 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