Substandard Medical Treatment for Illinois Inmates - Week of April 22

[Dazzler]

[Ed. Note: A press conference to expose the substandard quality of medical treatment to Illinois inmates will be held Wednesday, April 25th in the conference room of the John Howard Association, Chicago.]

Illinois Prison Talk has submitted this press release with our forum's position regarding this inhumane and grave situation:

For immediate release:

The administration and members of Illinois Prison Talk, the #1 website for
inmate family support and Illinois prison reform issues is appalled at the
substandard medical treatment being provided to Illinois inmates.

The IDOC has an obligation to provide reasonable and timely services to
Illinois inmates who have no other access to medical treatment. Budget
cuts in the past three years and contractural medical services (for
profit) have resulted in poor, haphazard treatment for our inmates.  The
situation is deplorable and inhumane.

The most frequent member complaint to IPT is the poor medical services of
family members.  In addition, IPT received over one hundred letters this
past year from incarcerated inmates begging us to intervene on their
behalf.  These requests were not about minor complaints.  They all
concerned very major traumas that needed immediate and aggressive medical
care.

The inmate's heartbreaking stories tell of the indifference of the medical
staffs, the retaliation by prison administration for complaining to
outside sources and the poor quality of care from the contracted medical
companies.

Inmates tell of repeatedly being charged medical fees and yet receive no
services.  The most serious illnesses and diseases are being haphazardly
treated, if at all, including heart disease, diabetes, kidney failure and
cancers.

The inmates fear retaliation, with just cause.  Stateville Correctional
Center, Crest Hill, is the most frequently reported institution within the
IDOC, although we receive requests for intervention from all Illinois
institutions. There have been an abundance of retaliation claims from
Stateville imates also.

The letters we receive that are of grave concern are forwarded to the John
Howard Association, Chicago.

Although the cases of Montell Johnson and James Harris are being
highlighted in April 25th's press conference, there are others that
require immediate treatment also.

Burl Mason, Jr. of Stateville CC recently wrote asking IPT to help save
his life.  He's endured serious heart failure and recently received an
emergency heart by-pass surgery.  However, since his release from the
hospital and return to Stateville's medical infirmary he has not received
proper followup care. He speaks of such intense pain that he prays for
death.  He says the medical director and nursing staff ignore his pleas.
He is 45 years old.

Inmates fear for their lives.  They fear they will not receive medical
services in a timely manner and will succumb to their diseases before
those eligible will attain parole. Most express their fear of dying a
slow, painful early death within the Department of Corrections.

I have my own personal story with a now paroled inmate.  He was given
psycotropic medications while in temporary residence at Stateville.  The
nursing staff said they ran out of his medication and he didn't receive
them until I made a complaint with the medical department.  He waited over
a week to receive these medications which have dangerous and deadly
consequences if withheld without proper withdrawal and physician
monitoring.

I received a letter from another Stateville inmate saying the ONE medical
technician assigned to an entire house suggested he write to us to protest
the lack of staffing to handle the numerous requests for medical and
dental treatment.  The tech is distraught over not being able to provide
treatment to the many who need it.  He blames the contract between his
employer and the State of Illinois for the bare bones essentials of care
to inmates, and inducement of greedy profits for the medical company.  He
said he alone has replaced four full-time techs following the staff cuts.

This is deplorable and libelous.  The State of Illinois has the
responsibility to provide proper medical and dental treatment to wards of
this state.  As the prisons continue to be filled beyond capacity, with no
relief in sight, the State is ignoring this issue and sentencing our
inmates to a plight worse than incarceration.


Administrator
Illinois Prison Talk

www.illinoisprisontalk.org

[sexymamiL]

this is madd crazy  o man this  thing i didn even know that they had this on this site

[paula]

I don't understand why inmates who are on private insurance policies cannot use them  while they are in custody. I feel that if the inmates family is paying to keep them on it they have every right to use it..

[Jims]

That's an interesting idea. At least for major medical.

[jewels]

I guess private medical care would have to involve the guards/medical teams there and as such they would continue to say they do not have the staff for such things as taking inmates out to outside hospitals. Even if the private insurance covered their treatment, each trip out would involve 2 officers.

[paula]

But they already use 2 or more officers for trips to outside DRS.

[jewels]

Yes, but mostly guys have to fight for any medical help. If guys had insurance, which I also agree with you on is a good idea by the way, if they had insurance there would be no excuse for the idoc not to take them other than complaining about the extra staff being used all the time for these trips. The idoc do not like having to provide the staff for outside trips.

[paula]

But it would save them so much money in the long run and our loved ones would be treated with the care and respect they deserve. I think IDOC just wants them to suffer. I mean I'm sure they could find DRS. that would be willing to accept most private insurances and make a trip to the prisons for a little xtra $$$$. I know I would be willing to pay out of my pocket for my husband and niece to recieve at least 1 good check up a year

[Jims]

Inmates get taken to outside hospitals all the time! J's been in the Chester hospital, and he's been to one down in Cape Girardeau, and each time the state had to pay for round-the-clock guards to sit there with him.

My sister works at the hospital in Pekin and inmates are brought in every day from the federal prison there. And sometimes here at OSU, they bring a busload of inmates in, all chained up.

[klo]

I still have my husband on my insurance...did not want to go through the hassle of taking him off then putting him back on.  I ought to be able to get him a dental check up at the very least!  He's trying very hard to take care of himself with the resources he has so he does not need their medical "care". 

[jewels]

Oh I know they get taken to the hospital all the time Jims. My point was that with medical insurance there would be a lot more to take and that would involve more guards taking them. I was just imagining what the idoc would have to say about it.

[paula]

But just think of the money that would be saved if all they had to pay for were the guards. I know it's just wishful thinking. IDOC would never allow our inmates to be treated with respect and dignity.  nono

[jewels]

Precisely. It would pay them in the long run too. Too many inmates waiting to sue them for lack of health care.

[bbuddy]

I am especially interested in this topic.  I am a nurse and my friend is at Graham.  He needs blood pressure and heart medications, which were prescribed by a cardiologist on the outside.  Now inside, the medical staff have changed all of his meds including his potassium, but do not seem to be doing the follow up to assure this was an appropriate change. I will be in close communication with him to make sure he is doing all right.  Glad to know someone is looking into this.

[momm316]

BBuddy:  There are several friends that I consider "real experienced people" on this site that might be able to help you with your questions regarding medications.  One is Jewels.  She is an advocate of those inmates not receiving their medication and might possibly have some contacts.  You might want to pm her with your questions.
Blessings
Momm316