Latest news with #medicalneglect
Associated Press
21-07-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Parents of man who died in Colorado jail say nurses, deputies ignored his pleas for 15 hours
DENVER (AP) — The parents of a man who died alone in a Colorado jail cell after an ulcer burned a hole in his digestive tract and left him in what they said was excruciating pain for about 15 hours filed a federal lawsuit Monday, accusing the jail's nurses and sheriff's deputes of ignoring his cries for help. The lawsuit blames them, local government officials and Southern Health Partners for failing to stop the death of Daniel Foard in 2023 by taking him to the hospital. Foard, 32, was a cook at a brewpub and user of fentanyl who was arrested for failing to appear in court. After being segregated and monitored for withdrawal from the synthetic opioid, he began vomiting and complained of stomach pain after being put in a regular jail cell, it said. The lawsuit alleges Southern Health Partners — the Tennessee-based company they contracted with to provide health care at the La Plata County jail — has tried to maximize its profits at the jail by only having one nurse on duty at a time, leaving it to medically untrained deputies to monitor sick inmates. The company holds hundred of contracts at jails around the country and the lawsuit alleges that is has been involved in lawsuits related to the deaths of at least five other jail inmates nationally. The company's lawyer, Shira Crittendon, said she had not seen the lawsuit and declined to comment on it. The sheriff's office referred questions about the the lawsuit to a county spokesperson. In a statement, the county said it had not analyzed the allegations in the lawsuit and does not comment publicly on active litigation. Autopsy found Foard died because of an ulcer Foard was found dead in the jail on Aug. 17, 2023, six days after he was arrested. An autopsy found Foard died as a result of a hole created by an ulcer in his small intestine, which caused inflammation of the tissue lining his abdomen. Such ulcers can let food and digestive juices leak out of the body's digestive tract. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, was found in Foard's blood but the autopsy report did not name that as a cause of his death. Dr. Michael Arnall ruled Foard's death was due to natural causes. On Aug. 15, 2023, even though Foard had collapsed several times and had trouble standing, he was moved out of an area where he could be more easily observed for problems with his withdrawal and put into a regular jail cell, staggering as we went, the lawsuit said. The day nurse ignored a deputy's concern that he was very unstable, according to the lawsuit brought by lawyers Dan Weiss, Anna Holland Edwards, John Holland and Erica Grossman. After a deputy delivering breakfast on Aug. 16, 2023 saw that Foard repeatedly fell while trying to get his tray, the jail's day nurse came to check on him, it said. She recorded that Foard reported he had sharp, shooting pain that was a '10' on a scale of one to 10, but she did not call for a doctor or send him to the hospital, it said. The nurse moved Foard to an empty cell where he could be monitored but didn't tell deputies what he was being monitored for and didn't order any follow up care or check on him, it said. He vomited all day and was moved to another cell and then a third because they had all become so messy with vomit, it said. Surveillance video showed him crawling to the final cell, where it said he continuously called out for help and yelled that he needed to go to a hospital, saying he was vomiting blood. The lawsuit claims that no one responded to his pleas but one deputy could be heard on surveillance video telling him to 'try to hit that drain' with his vomit to keep the cell from becoming dirty. Another nurse, working the evening shift, only walked by his cell and glanced inside, but did not assess him or provide care as he was pleading for help, the lawsuit said. When she did enter his cell around 10 p.m., Foard was dead, it said. She told state investigators that vomiting was normal for people withdrawing from fentanyl. State authorities investigated Foard's death The day shift nurse later told a state investigator that it was not unusual that Foard would not have had his vital signs checked for 12 hours because of the number of inmates the jail's nurses need to provide care, according to a report from an investigation by the Colorado Bureau of Investigations. She also said she didn't think there was anything different she could have done based on Foard's symptoms. The bureau's findings were forwarded to the 6th District Attorney's Office, which would decide whether any criminal charges were warranted in connection with Foard's death. It's not known whether the office decided to pursue any charges. A telephone message and email sent to District Attorney Sean Murray were not immediately returned. In a statement, Jim Foard and Susan Gizinski said they want everyone to know about their son's ordeal both to hold those they say are responsible for his death accountable and to change how inmates are treated at the jail. 'Just basic training in having compassion for others would be a great start. But adding more staff is critical too,' they said.
Free Malaysia Today
10-07-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Man fined RM500 for negligence leading to friend's death
Oon Tien Yue being brought to the Ampang sessions court this morning. KUALA LUMPUR : A 36-year-old man was fined RM500 for failing to seek medical treatment for his friend, an act that ultimately led to the latter's death. Oon Tien Yue was charged in the Ampang sessions court with acting negligently by failing to obtain medical attention for Law Mun How, 37, thereby endangering Law's life. Investigations revealed that Law had been sleeping in a car parked in front of Oon's house in Taman Pandan Perdana, Ampang, from June 14 to June 20, during which time he appeared to be in a weakened state. Instead of taking him to a medical facility, Oon brought Law into his home and left him in the living room, where he died two days later. According to the facts of the case, a medical assistant alerted the police after Law was found dead in the house on June 22. The case was initially classified as a sudden death, but later reclassified as murder after a post-mortem revealed signs of foul play. The autopsy showed that Law had died from a bacterial infection resulting from untreated skin and bone injuries. A forensic examination also found multiple fractures – including on the left arm, right collarbone, and ribs on both sides – as well as bruises and abrasions on the face, arms, legs, and torso. Oon was charged under Section 336 of the Penal Code with endangering the life or personal safety of another, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of three months' imprisonment, a fine of up to RM500, or both. Magistrate Amalina Basirah Top imposed the fine after Oon pleaded guilty to the charge. The court also ordered the self-employed man to serve one month in jail if he fails to pay the fine. Deputy public prosecutor M Ramanathan led the prosecution while Oon was represented by a lawyer from the National Legal Aid Foundation.
Free Malaysia Today
10-07-2025
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Mother of man who died in prison custody awarded RM560,000 in damages
Lawyer M Visvanathan explains the Ipoh High Court's decision to R Muniamah and her nephew. They are flanked by counsel V Sanjay Nathan (left) and Pushan Qin Nathan. PETALING JAYA : The Ipoh High Court today awarded RM560,000 in damages to the mother of a man who died in prison custody on the day of his release in 2017, ruling that there was a systemic failure by the authorities to safeguard the health and wellbeing of R Siva. Judicial commissioner Moses Susayan found that Siva had been healthy and fit before his incarceration at Tapah prison. 'However, on the day of his release, a brother of the deceased was instead instructed to go to Tapah Hospital to collect his body,' he said in allowing the civil suit filed by Siva's mother, R Muniamah. He said the Tapah prison authorities had failed to inform the family of Siva's condition. 'There was suppression of information by the authorities, despite being in possession of the family's contact details,' Susayan said. The judge ruled that prison and police officers had deprived Siva of his liberty and failed in their duty to protect his wellbeing, including his right to life with dignity, and access to basic needs such as adequate healthcare, a proper diet, and timely medical attention. 'In this case, there was systemic failure and medical neglect. The defendants' own witnesses admitted to a dereliction of duty,' he said. A prison medical officer, under cross-examination, admitted that the facility was at its 'lowest ebb' at the time and failed to meet the standards required under the Prison Regulations and the Prison Act. Susayan awarded the following damages: RM200,000 in general damages for misfeasance in public office; RM300,000 in aggravated damages; RM10,000 for bereavement; RM38,400 for dependency claims; and RM15,500 in special damages. He also ordered the government to pay RM70,000 in legal costs. Siva, 30, died on March 20, 2017, the day he was supposed to be released after serving an eight-month jail sentence for theft. An inquest conducted by the coroner's court concluded that he died of natural causes due to disease. Muniamah named 13 defendants in her suit, including Tapah prison officers, police officers, and the federal government, citing negligence, breach of statutory duties, and misfeasance in public office. She was represented by lawyers M Visvanathan, V Sanjay Nathan and Pushan Qin Nathan, while senior federal counsel Siti Aishah Ramlan and federal counsel Siti Norashikin Hassanor appeared for the government.
Malay Mail
10-07-2025
- Malay Mail
Man gets RM500 fine for letting friend die from treatable wounds
KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 — A 37-year-old trader was sentenced to a RM500 fine after admitting he negligently failed to seek medical help for his severely injured friend, an e-hailing driver who died from infected wounds while under his care. Magistrate Amalina Basirah Md Top also ordered the accused, Oon Tien Yue, be jailed for a month if he fails to pay the fine, The New Straits Times reported. Oon negligently failed to seek medical treatment for Law Mun How, 37, in a manner that endangered the latter's life at a house in Jalan Perdana 6/5, Pandan Perdana, between 10.33am on June 20 and 7.50pm on June 22. The victim, who was seriously injured after allegedly being assaulted, had been sleeping in a car in front of the accused's house from June 14 to 20. On June 22, the accused brought the victim into the house, but left him in the living room without seeking treatment. A post-mortem on June 23 revealed that the cause of death was infected wounds, with bacterial infection in body tissues, including the skin and muscles. Deputy public prosecutor M. Ramanathan Alias Ashwin urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence due to the seriousness of the case. Oon, who was unrepresented, pleaded for leniency, saying he is responsible for the care of his elderly parents.
BBC News
25-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Witham mum-of-five 'begged' for help before Essex hospital death
A care worker "begged and pleaded" for help before dying shortly after childbirth, her mother Seaman, 36, told staff she could feel bleeding after delivering her fifth child at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, Essex, in December mum, Sarah Shead, supports a national inquiry, and said of her daughter: "She told them she was dying and no-one took her seriously until it was too late and the damage was done."Broomfield's, chief executive, Matthew Hopkins said care was an "absolute priority" after Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced a national inquiry into maternity services. The final list of trusts involved was not revealed in Monday's the BBC was told bosses at the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (MSE) would meet with government officials as part of the investigation. A coroner in Auguest 2024 ruled multiple failures by staff amounted to "neglect" and led to Ms Seaman's death two days after giving birth at the MSE-run mother-of-five, from Witham, Essex had repeatedly warned of feeling dizzy and numb, alongside an internal "gushing"."She begged for her life, she begged me for her life and I thought they were doing everything they could do," Ms Shead told the BBC. "I will forever live with the fact that I didn't shout and scream and say 'What are you doing?', because they appeared to be doing everything."But what we were seeing was not what was actually happening." 'Too many deaths' Ms Seaman had been known to MSE officials to be at high risk of heavy bleeding was able to breastfeed her newborn before her condition deteriorated, later suffering a significant peritoneal haemorrhage that proved fatal."I'm the mother that lost a daughter who was fit, well and had a 99.9% of surviving had they realised her spleen had ruptured earlier," Ms Shead added. She said the national inquiry, due to begin this summer and report back by December, was overdue."I think this is the only way for the health service to learn where it needs to improve," Ms Shead explained."There are too many deaths, too many losses. My hope is this happens quickly."Maternity care at Broomfield Hospital was rated "inadequate" by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in Hopkins said he was overseeing an action plan to improve the safety of its care."The care and safety of families using our maternity and neonatal services is an absolute priority," he continued."We will support any work to tackle health inequalities and improve maternity services for families across the country." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
