A jail nurse at the Hancock County Jail was fired following an inmate’s death.
Brian Bales, 36, died Feb. 18 from what an autopsy later showed to be gastrointestinal bleeding. Bales was arrested Feb. 16 and booked into the jail because deputies suspected him of driving under the influence of drugs.
The jail nurse apparently did not consult with an on-call doctor, but had been informed that the inmate had experienced similar symptoms in the past.
Jail medicine is a tough nut to crack. Inmates should certainly get appropriate medical care. But sometimes it’s tough to determine what the appropriate level of care should be. And, because it is an adversarial situation to start with, if anything goes wrong, the second guessing is inevitable. How far should a county go to provide inmates with medical care when necessary and limit liability? Should jails become top-flight medical centers as well? Pay for emergency room visits any time an inmate complains, keeping in mind that, while many inmates are honest, many inmates — and I know this will shock you, dear reader — are not honest and don’t much like being in jail?
If one is truly innocent until proven guilty, it sounds like Hancock County just killed an innocent man.
Well, first, they didn’t kill him. He had a medical condition that killed him. Would he have sought treatment himself if he hadn’t been incarceration? Maybe, but hard to tell. He was apparently a diabetic – perhaps checking how he handled that illness would provide some insight as to whether he was diligent about his health and would have sought treatment for whatever his problem was in this case.
Second, innocent or guilty doesn’t really matter. Jail isn’t supposed to be a death sentence. By the same token, it’s also not supposed to be a health plan.
Why shouldn’t it be a health plan? According to Greene’s Encyclopedia of Police Science, most folks in jail, like Mr. Bales, haven’t been convicted of the crime they are being incarcerated for.
Jail is used too often as a preemptive punitive measure. Bales had been arrested for a misdemeanor offense on February 16, yet he was still in the jail on the 18th. There aren’t many compelling reasons to deprive a suspected misdemeanant of his or her freedom for that long, yet we accept it as standard practice.
When the deceased man registered 0.00 on his alcohol test and wasn’t found to be in possession of any narcotics. The nurse and arresting officers should have begun to look towards a medical explanation as a possible reason for his strange behavior.
The man was bought in for suspected intoxication; the nurse at the jail had 10 years experience. A diabetic with very high blood sugar levels will have breath that smells like alcohol. Sad, really sad.
My brother Jeffrey A Lanham died in the Morgan County Jail on August 30, 2008. He was suffering from a medical emergency and was battered by jail employees. He did not receive medical attention and died. He was 24 years old. Our Sheriff in Morgan County has not done anything. Nothing. My brother was booked at 2:16am and was dead by 9:00am. The Morgan County Jail let my brother lay in a drunk tank and aspirate on his own vomit. He was sick the entire time he was there and no one did anything to help him.
Ive worked as a paramedic for a while now, and I have gone to many, many jail calls. And let me tell you, 9 times out of 10 they are faking a heart attack to get out of jail for the day. I see it day in and day out. But you still need to do everything you can to rule out if they are sick or not, and you still need to treat them. The best this nurse could of done with a GI bleed is a full assesment for circulation and monitor vitals.
Morgan co. jail is dirty and most of the officers I dealt with in holding were immature and unprofessional. It took 2 officers 45 min to put my info in to book me because they were giving each other wedgies and wet willies. These two men were in charge of people’s lives and well beings. Why was I there? I went in to seve 48 hrs for an OWI charge. I made a boo boo and went to take my punishment like a big girl. I was polite and did my time quietly. I was in a holding cell with 3 other females. One was 6 mo pregnant and had been in that same cell 4 days with no shower and in the same panties. Her charge? Violation of probation on her last day of prob. because she couldn’t afford all of her prob. fees. She was kept without bond. I saw her paperwork, this is not just what she told me. We had 1/4 roll of t.p. btwn 4 females during that 48 hrs and were told they were out so no more. 2 of us slept on the mats on the floor and had ants crawling on us. the cell hadn’t been cleaned in at least 4 days including the toilet. When it had been almost 20 min past my release time I knocked on the door and asked what happens to get me out of here my time is up and the officers laughed at me. One said “Well come on out sweetheart”. What had I done to deserve that? My time was served I was a citizen again and had been for 20 min. They didn’t even start my release until I asked. I asked that officer if I had been rude or unruly during my stay he responded in the negative. I told him I thought his smart a– comment was unnecessary and mean spirited. His excuse? “Well I didn’t know what you wanted.” I must say that 3 officers I dealt with were very polite and understanding with me and other inmates. But when the majority of their collegues behave like 12 yr olds they can only do so much.
County jail is not a hotel. You are there because you either did something you’re not supposed to do or you just simply broke the law. If you’re looking for hotel quality, then don’t break the laws and do everything you’re supposed to do to prevent from putting yourself in there. As health care professionals, we do what we can to help sick patients, but remember we are not Gods. There is no such perfection and there is always room for mistake though we always try to do the best we can for the patients without being judgemental. If you’re complaining, then you need to come with these inmates for a day. Walk in our shoes before you pass judgement!
All inmates complain about jail- it is very unpleasant. We, the law-abiding citizens paying for inmates food, clothing, medical care WANT it to be unpleasant. It isn’t the Hilton. I personally don’t want to pay for on-site RNs and Physicians- raise my taxes for treatment that my family doesn’t get? Free healthcare? I don’t think so.
Also, although very, very sad that anyone dies in jail-not always can it be blamed on the staff. Drug use causes many different symptoms, and can mask many critical symptoms. Also, inmates frequently lie on medical intake, or they angrily demand that staff leave them alone- then they scream that they weren’t helped.
Try to perform a medical evaluation on someone who is demanding, angry, belligerent, under the influence, refusing to answer questions, but may possibly have a critical medical problem. All we can do is walk off and hope they come to their senses later.
It can take weeks to get medical records to verify medical conditions.
I watched an inmate claim a critical blood disorder, was treated for it, almost died and had to be hospitalized, later claiming his father had the disorder, and he only wanted double meal portions and a bottom bunk.
Then, of course, inmates are encouraged by family members and attorneys to sue the jail/medical staff- and they know that they will get some monies without any effort or investment on their part. Inmates end up getting a few thousand, attorneys also, and the public becomes outraged that a nice, innocent inmate didn’t get his muscle relaxant/pain pill/sleeping pill/narcotic…
Just give it up hard working America- rent the local luxury hotel for a jail, heat up the jacuzzi, and let your children do without health care.
I can’t believe what i am reading here.When you are held in jail the county or state is your guardian and is subject to maintain resonable healthcare.A man died for christ sake..a life lost that should not have been and they need to be held accountable. Dont give me this crap about cost….we waste millions if not billions everyday and when you are incarcerated your still a human and are entitled to be at the very least kept alive.The fact that 2 nurses both see no problem with this scares the hell out of me,I pray you find another occupation.You certainly are a disgrace to your current profession