THE DEATH OF MENARD PRISONER WILLIAM L.
BUHRMESTER B67426
I AM NOT LOOKING FOR MONEY - I AM
DEMANDING JUSTICE
I am the father of
William Lee Buhrmester age 36 who DIED
COMPLETELY UNNECESSARILY in the ....Menard..
..Correctional.. ..Center....
at ....Chester.., ..Illinois....
from lack of
medical treatment. William has had medical problems that began at the Robinson
facility in December 2007. At the time he weighed 210 pounds.
For 4-5 weeks William had complained of lower stomach
cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. Being treated at the Correctional
Facility he had lost approximately 60- 70 pounds. He related to me they were
giving him medication to stop the
diarrhea and vomiting, but he continued losing weight. Instead of having
a skilled medical Dr. look
at him, the nurse and Dr. at the Robinson facility continued treating him,
telling him he would be
alright. It seems to me with continued weight loss and the obvious
symptoms; something else would have and should have been suspected.
After
several phone calls to the prison infirmary, letters to State Representatives,
Roger E. Walker they finally took him to Carle Clinic in ....Champaign..
..Illinois.... where he
was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. By that time he was completely emaciated
and his weight has dropped to around 124 pounds.
ULCERATIVE COLITIS - EATS HOLES AND
DESTROYS YOUR LOWER INTESTINE....
After a two week stay at the hospital he was
released to go back to the infirmary in Robinson where he was given daily
medications as directed by the Drs. at the prison. Within just a couple of
months his weight was back to almost normal. The Robinson facility was
also required by doctors in ....Champaign....
that he was to receive an intravenous drug called Ramicade on a 6-8 week
interval. Ramicade is an expensive drug that cost approximately $8,000.00 per
infusion. With no insurance when William got out of prison we were given
instructions at Carle Clinic on the procedures we should follow after William
was released from prison in order for him to continue receiving his infusions.
William requested medical release forms from Dr. Saro Gulani at the Robinson
facility. He was informed by Dr. Gulani that if he was planning on suing
that she could stop his medications, trips to Champaign, and
could also transfer him to another prison,
slammed his medical file shut and said there is nothing left to say since you
want to talk to a lawyer.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED ONE YEAR
LATER....
At that time Assistant Warden Tylka walked up and William told her what has
just taken place and requested that from then on he would like to have a
correctional officer or someone with higher authority than Dr. Gulani be there
when he had to talk to her, to protect himself from the threats and disrespect.
Things were
going well until January of this year until he was accused of gang activity for
wrestling and scuffling with some of his buddies in their dorm room because of
the daily boredom, and having contraband in his personal belongings, which
consisted of a magazine
he had picked up IN THE DAY ROOM, IN THE PRISON. If the
magazine was considered contraband, how did it get PAST the PRISON MAIL CHECK,
which is supposed to be done before mail is ever given to the inmates. I
understand, you can't catch everything that comes into the
prisons by mail or by visitors. BUT YOU DO NOT PUNISH SOMEONE, for
someone else's mistake. The “gang activity " according to the prison
officials in Robinson, no incidents were reported by any victims, it was not
captured on video camera because it was explained to me by a Jackie Miller (
prisoner advocate?) That the State of ....Illinois....
can not afford to put video tapes in the cameras that are installed in the
prisons in the State of ....Illinois.....
William was
transferred to ....Menard.. ..Correctional..
..Center.... around ..the 11th of February 2009... At that time he
weighed around 195 pounds. At the time of reception to Menards, they were
told, by William, that he had a disease called Ulcerative Colitis, which he
needed daily medications, and every 6-8 weeks he needed to be transferred to a
hospital so he could get the infusion of Ramicade. At the time of his
transfer to Menards I believe he was past due for the infusion. William was put
into segregation for up to 1 year, no phone calls, one shower per week for 15
minutes, loss of all good time, and one year added to his sentence. All,
with no actual proof of any kind.
February
27 - he started passing blood. I called his Health Services to check
on his health, but got no information because a Hippa paper (privacy of information)
has not been signed for me to get
medical information. I
requested the form be taken to him immediately, because of previous health
problems at Robinson.
March 2
- he saw the infirmary nurse and he weighed 170 pounds and was having cramps.
No Hippa paper on record yet. I put in another request for it to be
delivered to him.
March 3
- he saw Dr. Adrian Feinerman and weighed 165 pounds and was put on predizone.
March 9
- Letter written and sent to Menard Correctional Center Warden Donald Gaetz,
faxed to State Representative William B. Black (who is not our State
Representative anymore.) Shane Cultra (who is our) State
Representative told me in 2008 that it sounded like a legal matter, and he
said
couldn't help.
March 10
- Bill hadn't seen a Dr. yet. Bloody stool and severe cramps. Weight 160. Still
no Hippa form on record, and a demand to get it to him.
March 18
- no Dr. yet and he thinks he has lost close to 10 more pounds.
Miserable, bloody, no vomiting. He can't eat, it hurts too much. Very weak, and
has lost muscle.
March 19
- he went to ....Kenneth.. ..Hall..
..Regional.. ..Hospital....
in ....East St. Louis.... and saw Dr.
Leyland Thomas, Gastroenterologist. He recommended a Ramicade infusion
but it is up to Dr. Feinerman at Menards. They don't have the medicine at ....Kenneth..
..Hall.. ..Hospital....
and it will be 7-10 days before it is delivered. (What happened to overnight
delivery, or going to another Hospital in ....St. Louis....?)
William doesn't think he has lost much more weight, but his skin colors have
changed, his arms, legs, and
voice are different. William wants me to explain what a Hippa paper is, (so it
hasn't been taken to him yet.)
March 26
- Constant pain every minute now, weight 140 pounds, can barely go up the steps
to the infirmary, doesn't know if he can pull through this it or not and is
very sick. Has a huge intestinal boil hanging on the
outside, it feels like his insides are hanging out. Predizone started
but, No Hippa form
on file. Dr. Feinerman now says it is up to Dr. Thomas in ....St.
Louis.... how often he gets the Ramicade infusion, but he
has not had the first shot yet. Bill says his medical records state that he
needs the Ramicade every two months.
March 27
- ..5:15pm.. - Call to Bill Blacks
office and left a message telling what was going on and to please call back as
soon as possible.
March 30
- Phone calls all morning to Menard, Prisoner Review Board, Prisoner Advocate
people, everyone will look
into it.
.. ..
March 31 - ..9:40am.. -
Called Menard Heath Services but they can't find his records and they will have
to call me back.
..9:45am.. - Called ....Kenneth..
..Hall.. ..Regional.. ..Hospital....
in ....East St. Louis.... and asked to
speak with Dr. Leyland Thomas, Gastroenterologist. My call was sent to a
Department that treats the prisoners that are sent to the hospital from
Menard. I asked about the Ramicade for William Buhrmester my son. I
was told any information they could give me had to be OK'd through Menard.
..10:40am..
- Menard Health Care nurse called back and informed me that Bill's medical
records were on Dr. Feinermans desk but there was still no Hippa form and she
could only let me know that appointments for Bill were being set up and that
was all she could tell me.
..1:20pm..
- Bill Blacks secretary called me and they had called the Illinois Department
of Corrections, and Menards. They will look into it but can not give any
information without a Hippa form. I am reassured by Bill Blacks office
that appointments have been set up.
April ..2 - 12:15pm..
- Phone call is received that William has passed away and we must claim the
body today or the body will be disposed of.
..12:30pm.. - Bill Blacks
office is informed of what has happened and I am assured that Bill Black would
look into what has happened.
..1:30pm.. - Ryan
Anderson is called by family to pick up William.
..2:30pm.. - Ryan
calls us and informs us the body has already been embalmed and that an
autopsy will be performed at ..9:30 am..
on Friday.
..3:00pm..
- Our last letter from Billy is received Dated March 29th. It reads as follows.
.. ..
.. ..
Dad, Kellie
Still the same, now they dropped my Asawl from 4 tablets by mouth 3 times a
day, to 1 tablet by mouth 1 time a day. I don't know what to do anymore.
I still haven't got the Ramicade. I did sit up just a little
bit ago and filed an emergency grievance on the Ramicade and the change in
medicine. Dad, I hurt so bad
I'll write later. Jackie Miller should have my grievance soon. Talk to
her and if you can pull
any other strings, pull them. I'm back, I still haven't ate much at all, piece
of
cheese, and some peaches is all I can think of. Dad, I'm scared again, my
health is straight trash. I can
barely help myself. When we go to the showers on Friday there is two of
us in there and we get
about 15 minutes a piece. I couldn't stand the whole time. I'm
weak. Dad I have nothing new to say. I'm going to lay down. I love
you guys so much. Take Care!
I Love You
Bill
THIS IS NOT AND ISOLATED PROBLEM. IT HAPPENS EVERYDAY IN THE ....ILLINOIS....
PRISON SYSTEM. YOU MAY NOT HAVE A FRIEND OR LOVED ONE IN PRISON -
YET, BUT
THIS CAN HAPPEN!!
THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION IS REQUIRED BY LAW AND THE
CONSTITUTION - PROHIBITION AGAINST CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT TO
PROVIDE HEALTH AND MEDICAL SERVICES. THE IDOC HAS SIGNED CONTRACTS WITH
HEALTH CONTRACTS WITH HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS TO MEET THIS
OBLIGATION.
FOLLOW UP AFTER DIAGNOSIS OR SURGERY IS OFTEN ABSENT, AND A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER
OF CASES TREATMENTS IS DENIED ALTOGETHER, AND THIS IS WHAT HAS
HAPPENED TO OUR BILLY.
..
..
PLEASE --- LET
YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES, FRIENDS, FAMILY, EVERYONE
KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING. SEND IT TO YOUR E-MAIL FRIENDS AND HELP STOP THIS
INHUMANE TREATMENT
COPIES OF EVERYTHING I HAVE MENTIONED ABOVE CONCERNING BILLS TREATMENT
IS AVAILABLE BY CONTACTING ME OR HIS SISTER KELLIE.
tek8@dtnspeednet.com sugardreams13@hotmail.com WE HAVE LOST A FATHER,
BROTHER, HUSBAND, SON, GRANDSON, AND NEPHEW BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY A FRIEND
THAT CAN NEVER BE REPLACED.
Amy Cade
barrocades@gmail.com
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