Why is appendicitis fatal in jail?

Appendicitis is a highly treatable condition and has a low death rate for those who seek treatment. However, cases of inmates dying from this condition continue to occur.

About Appendicitis

Appendicitis occurs when a small organ in your lower intestines called the appendix gets infected, swells and potentially bursts. Appendicitis is considered a surgical emergency in many cases because if it is not removed quickly, it will rupture. When an appendix bursts, an infection can spread throughout the abdomen causing peritonitis, and quickly lead to sepsis or death.

Globally, 8.7 people per 100,000 people are affected by appendicitis, and even fewer in the United States. When treatment is sought for appendicitis, death rates are very low. However, when treatment is not sought, greater than 50% of patients are estimated to die.

Medical Care in Jails

Conditions requiring surgical treatment can be more complicated with incarcerated populations. This is partly due to the emergent nature of how their condition presents. While the general public might seek out medical care or self-care earlier, it is not uncommon for inmates to first have their medical concern addressed in the emergency room and at a later point in the disease progression.

Inmate deaths:

• An Oklahoma man died of appendicitis after having terrible pain in his abdomen, losing weight, and seeking medical care 5 times in the week prior to his death. Authorities thought he might be “malingering”, gave him medications for acid reflux and a laxative–but never examined his abdomen.
• A man in Texas died of appendicitis after experiencing severe stomach pain, sweating, chills and vomiting for 4-days. He had been moved to a one-person cell for observation and scheduled to be seen by the nurse practitioner the next day, but died when his appendix ruptured.
• A Florida inmate died after begging for help for 4-days and being denied due to him being a security risk and not enough staffing.

Delayed treatment:

• After repeated attempts to be examined by a doctor, and only receiving antacids and laxatives, a Texas inmates’ appendix ruptured. He survived, but had months of recovery and 11 surgeries to repair the damage.
• For a Washington inmate, his appendicitis was not diagnosed by prison medical staff after 4 evaluations. But when he was transferred to the hospital, his appendicitis was identified and emergency surgery performed.

Incarceration is already understood to be hazardous to ones health, and inmates’ deaths while incarcerated  increased by 11% from 2000-2019. So while these may just be a handful of unfortunate instances where deaths could have been prevented, they also signal the importance of improving the medical care provided to inmates on a regular basis.

If a loved one died or you suffered life-changing catastrophic injury in jail, consider reaching out to one of our experienced attorneys.

Written By: Allison Kunerth

Allison Kunerth

Allison Kunerth, Ph.D. earned her Ph.D. in Public Health Studies at Saint Louis University. She also earned a P.S.M. in Biology at Illinois Institute of Technology, and an M.S. in Biosecurity and and Disaster Preparedness at Saint Louis University. Doctor Kunerth earned a B.S. in General Science at University of Oregon. Doctor Kunerth has worked as a writer, data analyst, communicable disease planner, program analyst, and laboratory technician. She has served in the military since 2010, currently serving as a Medical Service Corps Officer, with the rank of Captain, in the United States Army Reserve. Doctor Kunerth has published extensively, being either the primary or contributing author to approximately fifteen journal publications. Doctor Kunerth has also been the primary or co-presenter for approximately fourteen poster presentations. She has worked with the Lane County Public Health Advisory Committee, International Society of Disease Surveillance, and Saint Louis Regional Radiological Response Medical Reserve Corps.