A 60-year-old inmate complained about throbbing pain in his right hip and knee, and he asked a guard if he could go to the hospital. A painkiller was prescribed for the inmate by a nurse. That night, the inmate crawled to a common area of the jail, threw up, and begged for help. The medical director for the health care corporation was contacted by a nurse. The director advised the nurse to keep the inmate under close scrutiny, the records at the jail show.

The following day, the medical director went to the jail at 2:45 PM to check on the inmate. Because of the inmate’s right leg feeling very cold, the director was concerned and ordered deputies to transport the inmate to a hospital–rather than an ambulance. An hour later, the ride had been arranged. After an additional hour, arrangements had been made with an emergency room.

When the inmate finally arrived at a hospital, he underwent surgery in which physicians removed an enormous blood clot that had cut off the blood supply in the inmate’s thigh. Early the next day, the inmate had a major heart attack and died. Family members have since described their loved one’s right leg as appearing gangrenous.

Two months after the custodial death of the 60-year-old, the contract with the medical care company finally came to an end. A new health care contractor was selected.

The ousted company still had contracts with other jails, however, and other tragedies occurred.

Find out more about this continuing story in Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11.

This website provides ongoing posts as a source of information that may be helpful. There is never meant to be any type of implication of wrongdoing on the part of any person or institution.

–Guest Contributor