Stories Direct from The Inmates
Life in PerryvilleTerminal Cancer Patient, Formerly in Hospice, “in Agony” at Perryville’s San Carlos
(Ed. note: We have seen the patient’s original X-ray report and copy of the letter she sent to the Prison Law Office, and of course, we did a one-on-one interview. This article starts with an overview of her situation taken from the letter to Prison Law.)
“My name is Robin and I’ve been diagnosed with stage 4 breast, bone, and lung cancer. That diagnosis was given to me by Maricopa County Hospital, while I was an inmate in jail in June 2023. Before that I was in Hospice of the Valley in Mesa. While I was in Maricopa jail, they gave me too much methadone and I overdosed. I fell off the gurney and broke my neck.
When I was sent to Perryville prison I was immediately put into the SNU, their version of hospice. That was September 2023, and Dr. Ibrahim received my full records from hospice and jail as he was in charge of IPC and SNU. I was then sent off-site to an oncologist at Ironwood. She confirmed the hospital’s diagnosis but added I was too weak for chemotherapy and radiation, and wanted me to continue with hospice. At this time my lung is deteriorating and I’m in extreme pain. I’m confined to a wheelchair and require diapers. My story gets worse in October 2023.
“I filed for Medical Clemency in October, but I needed my records to be sent with it. Provider Malcolm called me to Carlos medical to tell me, ” There are no medical records that say I have cancer. The medical Director Dr. Ibrahim might have taken them, but he’s no longer here.” This was the middle of November. Providers John and Malcolm both said my medical records were sent to the Clemency Board when I applied on December 1, 2023.
I was denied on 1-16-24, but I don’t believe the correct records were sent to the board, because I just found out the prison lists me AS A BLACK MALE! (I’m white with blue eyes). The X-Ray request taken on 1-8-24, has my correct birthday, ADC number, and name, but under Race: B. Sex M.!! On 1-24-24 I asked a COIII to look me up on the prison computer to see if it was fixed….. wait for it….now I’m a BLACK WOMAN. Who knows what medical records the Clemency Board got, but it wasn’t mine. I’m asking Prison Law to find my correct medical records so I can file another Clemency appeal as I’m scared of dying in here of neglect. (end part 2)
The differences in quality of care are significant. In hospice, I received enough morphine to block all pain, was on constant oxygen, and got plenty of breathing treatments. In SNU I believe my morphine was cut in half to 200mg/day, which only blunted the constant pain. Oxygen was only administered when my level dropped below 82. At San Carlos under Malcolm and Johns, morphine is rationed out to only 120mg/day which leaves me in CONSTANT agony. I’m not on oxygen at all, and receive no breathing treatments.
On 1-25-24 an ICS was called because I had chest pains, numbed left arm, and coughing up blood. They wheeled me to medical where an EKG confirmed I had an irregular heartbeat. My oxygen was horribly low at 72. You’d think they would call 911, but both providers refused saying I wasn’t coughing blood anymore, and oxygen got my score to 89. They sent me back to my bunk.
I know my crying disturbs the people around me, but the pain from advanced cancer is unrelenting. Why does the DOC treat people so callously?
I’m hoping my story gets out to the media and advocates everywhere, so no one else has to die like this.”
DOC’s Latest Money Making Scheme Revealed!
(Letter received from minimum resident) “I am currently enrolled in Mandatory. (Ed. note: Until recently, mandatory was a 8th grade equivalency test all inmates are required to pass. Not passing this test affects everything in their life during incarceration.) I have been testing in the D book, and failed 4 times. But now we got switched to the A book 16 days from testing and I don’t understand it.
I am on several different psych meds and sleeping meds, and meds to deal with the stress and anxiety. Preparation time to study for these test get shorter and shorter.
The A test is way too hard and I feel mentally defeated like I’m never gonna go home because it’s all beyond my comprehension.
I dropped out of school in the 7th grade 27 years ago. Now I just can’t handle it anymore, and I feel like quitting and never coming back. How can I learn Trigonometry when my tutors and teachers don’t even know how to do it. I would like to go back to the D book because A is for college. This is affecting our mental health because not passing mandatory means I only get paid 10 cents an hour, I can’t be a phase 3, I can’t go home on time.
The DOC gets paid money for every test we take, so THEY WANT US TO FAIL!”
Another Inmate FICO Goes Down In Flames!
We’ve been writing about the for-profit healthcare vendors destroying inmates’ credit scores since our inception. Instead of getting better, it gets worse.
Here’s our latest example….. Ms. M. In 2021 she was sent by ambulance to Abrazo West Valley Hospital for cardiovascular problems. After several months she received a bill for $2,715.70 with a note, “unpaid amount after insurer denied”. The insurer was Centurion, the agent the DOC contracted with to give its citizens subpar health care.
Two years and seven grievances later, Ms. M is no closer to resolving this issue that has eroded and destroyed her credit. Is this the REENTRY help the DOC has in its name? She is about to be released, how will she get shelter with a credit score like that?
Ms. M is a ward of the state and is not responsible for her medical bills. No COIII could be bothered calling the collection agencies to explain she is incarcerated. This was the last entry from her appeal from the top gun at medical: ” The previous medical vendor was Centurion. We transitioned to Naphcare 2022 and we don’t have access to their claim system to resolve. The DON wanted you to know the process should you want to advocate for yourself. Decision Resolved.” Who is DON?? It sounds like the Mafia.
This woman got absolutely NO HELP FROM THE DOC. As usual.
WOMAN WITH ONE LUNG MADE TO BREATHE 2nd HAND SMOKE FOR TWO YEARS!!!!!
The DOC and San Carlos administration has come to an all-time low. This sweet, shy, lady who lost a lung in a traffic accident, has been condemned to breathe toxic fumes from the smoking bathroom. Her cube is only a few feet from A bays designated smoking bathroom. (A...
PREGNANCY FROM HELL/Perryville Style
(Whew. I just finished a 2-hour interview with this new mom....and I'm exhausted. I'm forwarding this to the media, Judge Silver, Director Thornell, and Governor Hobbs.). Ms. Thomas in her own words. "I've never been in prison before, I've never been in trouble...
Inmate Sucked into MRI Machine!
We just had a lengthy interview with this 37-year-old young lady. Here is what she told us. "I was going to have an MRI on my breasts at the hospital. As usual, I was chained head to foot, and accompanied by 2 guards. The MRI technician was not there, but the hospital...
Unsafe At Any Speed: DOC Transporting Patients Without Safety Restraints
(This recent story was told by the woman transported in the wheelchair compartment of the ADA van.) "I'm the lady with the broken femur that posted my story earlier in the month. I'm supposed to be getting PT for my leg that was snapped in two, on a regular basis, but...
When CO LUCID Is Bay Officer Women Must DEHYDRATE Themselves So They Don’t Get A Ticket!
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Provider Malcolm to Patient: “You’re a junkie and drug addict, that’s where all your problems are.”
(As we always say....this individual has her 1st Amendment right to free speech. There were no other witnesses to this medical appointment-Ed.) "I had 2 strokes in county jail prior to Perryville. After the 2nd stroke, I started to have seizures. I had two seizures in...
Patient Finds Erroneous Information In Her Medical File
We get many reports of people in Perryville that find wrong records in their files. This particular patient was undergoing an endoscopy when the doctor asked about her liver transplant. "Liver transplant?!" she exclaimed. She had never even come close to having one....
Wrong Diagnosis of Cancer Could Have Caused Suicide!
.(See June 24th story of "Another cancer causality on Carlos") Provider JOHNS misdiagnosis of end-stage cancer put GG in severe mental distress. Reportedly, she spoke of ending her life between tears of grief. GG was put in IPC to, allegedly, receive " better pain...
Is Lumley Out Of Control? An Eyewitness Story
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Elderly Woman Endures 3 Days With Broken Femur, With Only Muscle Rub For Pain!
This one takes the cake. We'll let her tell it in her own words. We will call her "Sue". "I collapsed again on San Carlos, but this time I woke up to terrible pain. My leg was at an awkward angle, but when I tried to straighten it the pain made me pass out again. The...
Diabetic Had Toe Amputated!
(Please refer to our previous report on this patient entitled, *Diabetic faces amputation due to No Care Naphcare*) From the patient herself. "The week before I was admitted to the hospital, I called for an ICS due to the severe pain in my foot. I have subsequently...
One Wrong Shot Left Young Woman Wheelchair Bound
Corizon, the now bankrupted health insurance provider, sent this young lady to a Pediatric surgeon for a very rare congenital bone disease surgery. She should have gone to an Orthopaedic surgeon with specialized training. Corizon is only interested in saving itself...
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