Medical care in prison will always be sub-standard and in some cases, woefully lacking. The DOCs across out country are not very compassionate or mindful to the needs of an inmate regarding health matters.

Usually they will only act if pressed, and even then it is a day to day struggle to force them to give adequate medical treatment to an inmate. You will have to complain, complain, complain and stay on their butt to get them to do anything.

You may even have to threaten a federal lawsuit. The DOCs don't really care much about an inmate's well being, but they do care about getting civilly sued, so, if enough pressure is placed on them, they will treat an inmate for his or her conditions, but trust me, it will only be minimal treatment at best. You will never find the health care in any prison facility to even compare with the care we experience on the outside.

But here are some ideas. First and foremost, most of the complaining will have to come from the family, which is you and your family. The DOC will rarely listen if only the inmate complains. Secondly, you have to know who to contact.

My first call would be to the medical facility of the prison she is housed. Explain your concerns to them. Next would be the warden of the facility. If things don't approve, my next few letters would to the director of the medical department for the DOC of South Carolina. If that does not seem to work, you need to contact the director of the DOC for South Carolina.

At some point, you may have to nicely hint to them that you will file a negligence suit if needed so that your sister can receive the proper medical care. You have to show them that as a sister, YOU are damned concerned about your sister and you will not give up until her medical treatment improves. You will have to let them know you mean business.

It is important for the DOC to know that your sister has family out here that will raise hell and take action if this medical negligence is not addressed. As I said, the DOC does not like lawsuits.

Go up the chain of command and stress at each level the problem. I was in the medical profession and her blood glucose should be taken every day. I doubt you can get that out of them, as three times a week might be the best you can ever hope for.

There is no reason for your sister to not be receiving her meds for her hypertension or her cholesterol problem. That is just maintenance medication and she should not have to beg for those kinds of meds.

Is she on insulin or hypoglycemic meds? Those kind of meds should be given as prescribed by the physician.

You will soon realize that the physicians working for the DOC are controlled by the DOC and not by good, established medical practice. Many of them are older men, semi-retired, or physicians who have at one time or another had their medical license suspended. The DOC can get these guys cheaply to do the work. You won't find many decent doctors working for the DOC.

Good luck,

rewdiazepam

good reply rewdiazepam! I am in somewhat of the same situation just not as serious. My daughter has Crohns and hasnt been given her meds for the last month that she has been in prison. They now say that they dont carry that particular drug but have other options. She is on to them and I have called their medical department. I will keep a closer eye on things and take further steps if needed. Keep on to them do what he says, he knows the system and has great advice.

Crohn's disease is not uncommon.

Telling you that they don't carry the proper meds to treat Crohn's disease is a bit disingenuous and just their way off putting you off, hoping you will drop it.

When I had my practice, people would bring in an RX all the time for some meds I did not normally carry, but guess what I did?

I ordered the drug. Any reputable wholesale drug provider carries the drugs used to treat Crohn's disease.

The DOC might not carry the drug, but they can order it and keep it on hand for your daughter. I cannot believe they tried to use that as an excuse.

If the state put her in prison, then the state can take care of her, including her medical needs.

BTW, for anyone having problems with their loved ones getting the proper medication in prison, here is a copy of the federal drug formulary they use in the federal system. I am sure it is similar to the one the states use----------------

http://tinyurl.com/nb8oyeg

rewdiazepam

My husband is in a Federal prison so things are a little different. When he first went to prison he was put in a medical facility so he did get most of his medical needs met,then he was transfered to a non medical facility where things were different. He really had to stay on top of his own medical conditions because sometimes they messed up, some days he got med's he knew were not his and had to make then aware of the mistake, if he didn't know what kind of medicine he took god only knows what he would have been taken.Two years later he was transferred again (that's a whole nother story) this time to a Federal camp, once again he had to make sure they knew all his medical conditions even though they had his records they were slow to take proper care of him. Rew is so right when he says complain, I did until someone listened. My husband is also a diabetic and because he is not in a medical facitlty he isn't given a diabetic diet, he hardly ever eats in the mess hall he makes most of his own food because has access to a microwave and can buy his own food at the commissary which is expensive, he has friends who work in the kitchen and they take care of him too. Because he complains a lot he is taken care of he has his sugar tested twice a day. He also has heart problems, he had 2 heart attacks before he went to prison and had stents put in. Last year he had a triple bypass done and I am happy to say he was treated very fast and with care.
Being in a Federal prison does have some advantages, he is very lucky to be in a camp with only 120 other inmates and for the most part they all get along. My husband's counciler knows me on a first name basis because when I don't hear from him when I am supposed to I call to make sure everything is OK. Don't get me wrong he still needs some medical attention which has already been approved and hasn't been happened yet. We are thinking of having an attorney look into these things for us. I will bring a lawsuit in a heartbeat if I have to. I know my husband is just a # to them but he is the love of my life and I will fight for his rights as you should too. Don't let them intimadate you your sister has a right to medical care.
Follow rew's advice at first be polite and express your concerns if they are not heard go up the line all the way to the Director of Prisons if you have to. I did and I did get a reply and things began to move. I hope your sister gets the medical care she needs very soon. Good luck, please let us know how you make out. Few is definetly the one who can give you the most help with this, he know the system better then most of us do.

Good luck,
Pat

Sorry for the typo I meant to say rew definetly knows not few. Lol !!

Thank you all so much, my mom called and spoke to the physician at the prison and that got the ball rolling on at least them giving her maintenance meds, but we believe the dosages are still wrong. I had my sister sign the form that allows me to call and find out information about her medical care and request documentation from the prison on her readings (well or lack of readings). Thanks so much Rew, I will be going up the chain of command.