Connecticut Family Mourning Loss After They Claimed Inmate Died from Treatment Errors

The prison population here in Connecticut is sometimes overlooked when it comes to medical treatment. Yet, even if a person deserves to be in jail, they need healthcare as anyone does. Here in Connecticut, a family is mourning the loss of one of their own, who was a prison inmate, after they say treatment errors by the prison cost him his life.

The family has filed a malpractice suit against the prison, asserting that a delay in proper treatment caused the death of the man. He apparently told prison staff that he was suffering from headaches, nausea and other signs of illness. Records say that he was administered different medications in the hopes that it would alleviate his symptoms. Eventually, prison officials realized the man was apparently unable to stand, and they rushed him to an emergency room. He received a diagnosis of bacterial meningitis, and doctors unsuccessfully attempted to save him with surgery.

The suit that his family has filed contains written opinions from multiple physicians who studied the man’s records. They determined that medical care experts who treated the man when he was in the hospital administered proper treatment but that prison officials failed to do so. The case is pending, and there has been no public comment from anyone who represents the prison.

Though some may be tempted to dismiss this case because the victim was serving time in a Connecticut prison, his family who loved him are certainly suffering from his death. If this suit is successful, any financial gain could be used to cover unpaid medical expenses, funeral costs and other damages that may have resulted from this tragedy. No one should have to suffer due to treatment errors.

Source: heraldonline.com, “Family sues state over inmate’s meningitis death”, Pat Eaton-Robb, June 24, 2014