Healthcare Behind Bars

[one...two...tree 2,762]

...excerpt.

A recent parolee and type II diabetic named Frederick (who did not give his last name) described how, when he was sent to prison in California a few years ago on a theft charge, he could walk and see as well as any other person. By the time the state released him a few months ago, he was legally blind and confined to a wheelchair.

He described to a crowd of about 40 people how prison staff neglected his medical condition until a 1999 stroke left him severely disabled. For instance, even though he is diabetic and has special dietary needs, he was served the same food as the other inmates. In addition, he added, "many of us diabetics weren't even getting our daily insulin injections in a timely manner."

With over 157,000 inmates in 33 facilities and an annual budget of nearly $5 billion, the California Department of Corrections operates the largest prison system in the nation. Yet critics charge that sick or injured inmates receive substandard and intermittent care. "California is the model for what a large prison system can do for a very ill prison population," said Judy Greenspan, the event's coordinator and chair of the HIV/Hepatitis C in Prisons Committee of California Prison Focus. "I think that it falls flat on its face."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...healthwatch.DTL

Edited May 21, 2009 by Col. 'Bat' Guano

[Sofiyya 1,687]

More evidence of how government run health care is a real winner

[_Simpson_ 250]

I hate thieves and have no sympathy for him.

[Peikko 1,575]

He doesn't require your sympathy, but the sentence was not x years and a side order of cripple and blind. He is now a burden on the tax payer as he obviously can't work. Perhaps his sentence should have been death? A site cheaper and good riddance eh?

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

...excerpt.

A recent parolee and type II diabetic named Frederick (who did not give his last name) described how, when he was sent to prison in California a few years ago on a theft charge, he could walk and see as well as any other person. By the time the state released him a few months ago, he was legally blind and confined to a wheelchair.

He described to a crowd of about 40 people how prison staff neglected his medical condition until a 1999 stroke left him severely disabled. For instance, even though he is diabetic and has special dietary needs, he was served the same food as the other inmates. In addition, he added, "many of us diabetics weren't even getting our daily insulin injections in a timely manner."

With over 157,000 inmates in 33 facilities and an annual budget of nearly $5 billion, the California Department of Corrections operates the largest prison system in the nation. Yet critics charge that sick or injured inmates receive substandard and intermittent care. "California is the model for what a large prison system can do for a very ill prison population," said Judy Greenspan, the event's coordinator and chair of the HIV/Hepatitis C in Prisons Committee of California Prison Focus. "I think that it falls flat on its face."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...healthwatch.DTL

POOR lil FELON! Polygragh him! Silly #### lib #######.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Period rectal exams is the only health care that prisoners should be entitled to.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Period rectal exams is the only health care that prisoners should be entitled to.

He!! they do that to each other! He!! throw a little virus in there and BAM more bed space. Simple.

[Ban Hammer 13,364]

More evidence of how government run health care is a real winner

on the bright side, being blind and in a wheelchair will probably mean he won't be a repeat offender.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

More evidence of how government run health care is a real winner

on the bright side, being blind and in a wheelchair will probably mean he won't be a repeat offender.

Oh man! How dare you!

[almaty 19]

i have worked in 3 prison systems of different states..and all are grumpy..very grumpy about inmate health care..as it is one reason why the cost of corrections has skyrocketed to being one of the more costly line items in most states' budget..

over and over..it is upheld by the federal courts..that a prisoner is placed in the custody of the dept of corrections..has the right to medical care at the states' expense....there will no changes forthcoming in this area...

so, when you want all people pitched in jail.....we pay for them health until they die or are released ..

[NickD 203]

Been talk about that on PBS radio, free room and board and healthcare for committing a crime against society. Really doesn't make sense. We are strapped by huge taxes to pay for this, so exactly who is being punished? Estimated cost is something like $40,000 per year for each prisoner, when I had a wife and six kids, should haven't received $320,000.00 per year from the government to take care of them. Tax free.

[almaty 19]

you are correct brother nick...the cost goes up yearly and rarely is there a public outcry in this area....need more cost effective measures which cannot always include incarceration or if it does, then mandated sentencing guidelines...

[Peikko 1,575]

That's not what the great unwashed want though. They want prisoners in prison, but the punishment should cost them nothing, or very little. They want prison to mean gruel, water, hard labour and cramped conditions. They want punishment to be brutal because that's what the guilty deserve.

Edited May 21, 2009 by Madame Cleo

[Bobby+Umit 161]

Cyro-Sentence.

We need John Spartan...

[_Simpson_ 250]

He doesn't require your sympathy, but the sentence was not x years and a side order of cripple and blind. He is now a burden on the tax payer as he obviously can't work. Perhaps his sentence should have been death? A site cheaper and good riddance eh?

When I bought my new plasma tv I didnt order a side order of take my tv you stupid no good rotten thief. Breaking the law has consequences and the tax payers should not be burdened at all, but your right we will be and with your line of logic and sympathy nothing will change. Him being blind is a result of him being a worthless thief and the burden should be all on him.

Good thing he doesnt need my sympathy, he would be sh*t out of luck.