Ok, someone hold me down, I'm soooo angry with the jail medical care again. The court order telling them that Kevin is to receive all of his meds as ordered has been violated yet again. This is what Kevin was told last nite when he asked why he didn't get 3 of his meds: " Mr. FArris, if you wanted to hang out in a hospital then instead of committing a crime, you shoulda had surgery".

Yep, these sure are professionals. Silly me, I always thought that people who worked in a jail (at least medical professionals there) must have a reason why they like to work there - OR THEY WOULDN'T!

So, being the overprotective wife that I am, I call to speak nicely with the nurse, just to gently remind them that we have a court order, not to mention that I provide 100% of his meds, they don't cost the jail a dime. Not only was I treated less than a human being, she hung up on me! So, tonite when Kevin called, he knew I had called them because the nurse got snotty with him and told him "You don't need to call your wife to tell her every little thing, do you?" And then she missed several more meds tonite.

I don't know what else to do. i have his medical POA and truly don't usually get involved unless there's nothing that Kevin can do. I want to call the superintendant tomorrow and discuss it with him, but I'm scared that they will take it out on Kevin. Do you think they will? He wants me to, he's tired of being punished with withholding his meds - I just don't want to risk getting him in trouble. I know the jail handbook they can't get in trouble for such things, but I know that's untrue.

I just don't understand the theory behind withholding meds - except for punishment and to make someone uncomfortable. Kevin keeps a log of other inmates medication problems and send them home to me - he's not the only one. Kevin has been nothing but polite, never has a harsh tone with his voice, treats others with respect, has never been written up nor been disciplined for anything, and still they can't treat him with human respect. I've never committed any crime and I'm treated with disrespect because I care about how my husband is being treated.

Should I call the superintendant tomorrow? Is Kevin going to feel the repurcussions of me "tattling"? I want him out of there ASAP, but not to the cost of his health!

I"m curious what type of meds these are that the staff would withhold them as punishment? I wonder if you can ask the court that ordered him to get the meds to request a log of meds given?

Holley,

This time it's all 3 of his antiedepressants, a few weeks ago it was antidepressants and blood pressure meds (until his bp went high, then they gave it back to him)

Thanks for asking!

Yes, I believe that you should call the Warden tomorrow, but I also believe that in cases like this a letter should be sent. Document things like this - especially medical. Not to say that they would but it is very easy to say that a phone call never happened.

Document and be factual and specific. Be factual rather than emotional. Ask for fair treatment and the required meds to be delivered on time.

I am going to move this to the General Health Care Forum...

Marci,
I can understand completely your frustration in this med situation. I have experienced the same issues where my son is at. I wish I knew what to do or where to call or even who would listen, but so far it seems it does not matter. The facility where my son is at pulls the same things, sometimes he gets no meds, sometimes only some of them. One time they even gave him the wrong ones!! Once they did not even give them to him yet someone signed off on it saying he had gotten them. It is not just him , it is others as well. If he complains or ask's they just give him attitude or say if you ask us we will just take longer. They never give them when the are suppose to. As far as taking things out on the inmates..that seems to be correct from what I have seen and heard. Calling the facility seems to do no good from what I have experienced. If I call , which I have in the past nothing was ever done about my calls and I do think they get more attitude when I have called. I do not know who governs these places or I might call them. Filing a complaint seems the way to go, the only problem being...who do you file it with?? can't imagine filing it with the facility as they have already shown their lack of care and concern for just about anything. I mentioned all of the things i have experienced to the attorney, but his feeling is he does not want to ruffle anyones feathers...what a joke! Still I do not understand how they get away with altering ones medications. These medications would not be prescribed by a Dr. if they were to be taken whenever you felt like it! hey are given for a reason and are given with certian instructions for a reason, apparently these facilities think they are above the Dr.s orders.

I also understand youre frustation I also have a son in jail with medical problems that requires medications. He needs these medications in order to continue living and they are now saying that the meds are to expensive he has a rare disease that many medical professionals dont know about and when I tried to educate them on it they said they had 400 prisoners and werent interested.I have an appointment to talk to the judge who is over the jail on Monday. It helps to know that Im not the only one with this problem and to hear what others have done thank Kim