Health Horror Stories
"These stories of health abuse are not independently verified by the editors of this website. However, all of the women have agreed to a HIPPA release to any qualified attorney willing to take their case, or to an investigative reporter from the media."
Elderly Diabetic With Sepsis Forced On Her Knees
A woman in her 70s was told to get on her knees and CRAWL FULLY CHAINED into a van to go to the hospital.
This all started with a spider bite on the woman’s stomach. When you have diabetes, any wound can become easily infected. The lady did go to medical when she got the bite, but all they did for her was give her hydrocortisone cream. It became infected and 5 days later. Even medical staff decided she should go to the hospital. It’s how she got there is the problem.
This is how she told us the story: “While I was in the medical building the 2 guards put me in full chains, legs, arms, belly chain…the works. I’m a minimum custody inmate, still within the prison yard, and normally I use a walker. When I got up to the van, I noticed they didn’t have a step (per policy) so I asked for one. The male guard snarled, ” We don’t have it get in now!” There was no way I could raise my leg in shackles so they told me to kneel on the van step. It took both guards to drag me to seat level, then they just shoved me sideways onto the seat. I was in unrelenting pain.”
Woman Left in Agony for Hours at San Carlos
An Air Force veteran we featured before, had another severe injury to her previously broken leg. Her knee and ankle were left hideously swollen just before 11 am count. CO Lara was informed immediately, but she asked the inmate if she could wait until count had cleared.
Unfortunately, during count, San Carlos had 3 ICS’s and our Vet hadn’t been seen by medical yet for, she claims, 2 hours. Finally, Lt. Cole stops by and the Vet is wheeled to medical. Allegedly, Lt. Cole tells her that an ICS is a “life or death situation, and hers doesn’t qualify.”
The Vet is a good soldier but she is crying because of the pain. The Head Nurse makes an assessment looking at the grotesquely swollen knee, and orders her to x-ray at Complex. After waiting in the medical hall for 3 hours, she is informed that no one is available to take her there! The Vet ends up back at the Bay for the night.
The next day our veteran is ordered to the V gate for the trip to Complex. Perryville only has one working wheelchair van, but it’s in use somewhere. The Vet has to refuse because without a wheelchair van, she’d be forced to CRAWL into the regular van. Been there, done that and she won’t do it again. A refusal means no x-ray….she hopes nothing is broken
Are These Some Of The Reasons Perryville Residents Have Such An Alarming Rate Of Cancer?
This took some deep digging, and investigative interviews to finally nail down what is labeled “Not for human consumption”. The prevailing answer was it’s the “mechanically separated chicken” inmates call shmeat.
But no! It is something much more diabolical, and so hush-hush, that even the white shirts won’t talk about it. It comes in a brown cardboard box, unlabeled except for the initials TVP. What is this? Textured Vegetable Protein.
The reason it’s an issue is that the product contains HEXANE which is used in the manufacturing process. HEXANE is a known carcinogen. This is the stuff that is mixed with the chicken parts to make it go farther.
The only fake sweetener available to prisoners, both in the kitchen and on the commissary, is Aspartame/Saccharin. The FDA says this is a carcinogen.
Keefe makes three shampoos, two body washes, and a dandruff product marketed to prisoners. ALL of them contain *pyrethezone zinc* and *cocamide DEA* . These chemicals are outlawed in 14 states and the FDA requires a warning label on all products. (California inmates can’t buy them because they’re banned)
Largest Unit in Arizona Prison System Operates Frequently with ONE Medical Provider!
Communication, predominantly from family members, describe their daughter's canceled doctor appointments at San Carlos. They allege that last week the inmate's Provider called in to say she would not be in. According to the family, the Provider said it would be...
Coming Attractions
(My webmaster was on a well-deserved holiday. Now that she is back the Editor can announce this website's next big story. We are covering the ELDERLY in prison. I'm going to call it "The cAGEing of Women in Perryville". This is a sneak peak of two stories that will be...
More Misery For The Aged And Infirm On Carlos
We've heard many reports from the elderly, cancer patients, and crippled that the new administration at Carlos took away their extra mattress that was authorized by medical. Why punish the already punished??!! The elderly and infirm already suffer from horrible...
CORIZON declares bankruptcy–what this means to Perryville residents
(This is based on Jimmy Jenkins' 2-19-23 article in the Arizona Republic on this subject. Jimmy explains in detail the "Texas two-step" where laws in Texas allowed Corizon to split into two corporations and put their debt payments on hold. This leaves malpractice...
Naphcare Error Endangered a Woman’s Life
(Story in her own words) On January 27th I underwent 3 skin cancer surgeries at Regency Dermatology. After the surgeon sewed up the last wound, he admonished me to "Be SURE to take your antibiotics starting tonight when you return to prison." When I arrived back at...
*IPC: The Journey From Hell and Back* (Diary of an actual patient)
2-1-23 After the surgeon from Regency Dermatology abraded and drained my cheek wound, PA Johnson condemned me to IPC for monitoring. Exhausted and in severe pain, I took a Tylonol 3 and passed out. 2-2 PA Shields came to change my dressing and start an IV. I worry...
DIVINE INTERVENTION? How I got moved from C Bay
February 1st 2023/ It was the best of times and it was the worst of times. This morning an Angel was pushing my wheelchair toward Yard Office....she leaned into my ear and said, "Your long nightmare on Charley bay is over." I was pushed into the Movement Officer's...
PLN Front-page/ “Arizona prison healthcare ‘grossly inadequate’ and ‘Deliberately indifferent to prisoners serious harm’
Go online, or consult the print issue of Prison Legal News, December 2022 edition. This is an excellent summary of the complex problems surrounding Jensen v. Shinn. Will the media onslaught of negative press finally make a dent in this draconian prison system? There's...
READ THIS- Prisoners Induced Against Their Will!
1-4-23 front page above the fold, by Jimmy Jenkins, Arizona Republic newspaper. This excellent, heartbreaking article written by Jimmy, exposes the dark underbelly of DOC cruelty toward women. This blog is proud to have facilitated, in a small way, in bringing this...
Naphcare NOT paying medical bills ruin inmates’ credit!
The prison's for-profit health provider is not paying the inmate's bills so unpaid bills are sent to the inmates themselves. Some uneducated families don't know the prison is responsible for all medical care. They think they have to pay bills for MRI scans, ambulance...
Why the Proliferation of Lower GI Problems in Perryville?
The women here are experiencing severe constipation, bloating, and nausea. The nurses have said the majority of HNR's are about these problems. I'm not talking a brief bout with constipation, but months of agony and pain in the lower intestines. Today a young lady...
No Antibiotics for Pregnant Woman, and No Breast Pads!
A pregnant woman on San Carlos that is in her 8th month, had an infected spider bite on her torso. Her OB/GYN started her on clinical stock antibiotics because the Dr. feared the infection would hurt the baby. NaphCare told her she would have the pills the next day,...
I was in prison for 17years and have seen so many people die in front of me It’s traumatic and I have PTSD from it. Medical never helped me for my heart problems, never took tests, just told me I have congested heart failure and didn’t do anything for me. I saw it every day. They never helped us, made us always feel like we were lying and would send us away. Making people work in the kitchen who have scoliosis, heart problems, people who have AIDS and Hep C as well as other STDs. There’s rat poop on our kitchen food, birds all over our trays that we eat off of making us all even sicker, black mold everywhere. We can’t breathe in our cells due to all the mold and crud in our walls, vents, and coolers. They are trying to kill us – they don’t care and the money they get for us does not go to us. There is so much more.
I’ve been sexually attacked by the CO police officers twice. I have my whole life to account for in there and I’m surprised I made it out after 17years. They have medium inmates on max yards getting assaulted and they don’t care. They say it is due to no room. They also send you to max yard as punishment without ever getting tickets. It’s all retaliation. They will ruin your life if you don’t do what they want. They make up lies, yep the sergeants, if you refuse to work because you don’t feel good. I heard a Sergeant say “Oh you’re going to hurt yourself” then cuff her up and put her in isolation when the girl never said it. I’ve seen it all, believe that.
Hi Cynthia! I’m not sure if you’ll see this but I am so sorry for what you went through. Thank you for sharing a glimpse of your story. I would love to ask you questions as I am exploring ideas for my doctoral capstone and am interested in issues in the AZ Women’s Prison. Is there any way we could talk further?
That was my friend 😭 she was cool ag and funny. I feel bad I had to leave San Carlos for Cruz. But fck their medical center, the whole prison is fucked up and corrupted. I’ve been out for 8 months now and I still remember everything like yesterday especially with health care. Like can the prison do an upgrade and fix their shit or will more ppl have to die like my friend here? It’s fucked up because I knew she was having a hard time in the beginning getting her shots. We both came from the same county. She wasn’t even a criminal like person. She was fun, bright and very smart, like she could’ve went to college. She had alot planned for herself…damn I love Jowell thank for the laughs and being a loyal friend. Rest in Paradise