Inadequate Medical Care in Jail

[Chris Grooms]

My question involves the rights of crime victims in the state of: North Carolina.

I am unsure of exactly where to ask this question.

Note: I do not have a record of any kind. I am clean. Nor have I ever done anything to have a criminal record.

I cannot remember the exact date which this occurred, but I'm going to estimate about 1.5 years ago.

I was dating my son's mother. It is a long story, but to make it short she was/is a drug addict. I did not find out until after she was pregnant. As time went by, I found out how extensive the issue was. From learning about the addictions (multiple drugs - hydrocodone, xanax, cocaine, etc) to seeing the symptoms first hand (eyes rolled in the back of her head, slurred speech, burning holes in the carpet when she dropped cigarettes, her psychological condition etc).

This is about 1 year into the relationship. At this point she was the poster child drug addict and was to my knowledge forced into a drug rehab program and was put on methadone. A few weeks later, I found out accidentally that she was dating someone else and did not tell me.

A week afterward, she accused me of making threats. Now, I had about 30 witnesses that could have proven this to be a lie, as I was at a home, witnessing a relative pass away on his death bed. Her accusation was that I communicated these threats verbally or on the phone or through text message. I don't remember the exact details. I was never even told until months later and I'm still not a hundred percent sure.



Here is the issue. Immediately, I was arrested and placed in jail for 3 days (2 nights) for the weekend. As is usual, my clothes were taken and so were my glasses. I was dressed in a robe that exposed my backside and placed in a cell with no bed and nothing but a toilet. There was a camera in the room. At this point, I wasn't even made aware of what the accusations were or the reasons that I was there. Only very vague descriptions. All I could think is that I did something wrong, but I couldn't figure out what it was. While in jail, they were made aware immediately that I was on medication and were given the medication. They were told that I must take one pill each day or that I can die. At no point was I given the medication.

The entire time there I was forced to sleep, naked with nothing but a robe on a concrete floor, using a toilet paper roll as a pillow (best comfort I could come up with). This is extremely painful after several hours. After about 1/2 day I began to get sick and was puking. I waved my hands to the camera for around one hour to get help, but no one came. At no point was I let out of the cell to stretch or get fresh air in the yard or do anything at all, but sit in a cell by myself on a concrete floor.

The question is, can I sue the city for this?

The way I see it, it is cruel and unusual punishment. The three days were extremely painful for me. You can't imagine until you can do nothing for 3 days but stand, sit on a hard floor or lay on a hard floor to try and sleep. They neglected to give me my medication. They never let me out to breathe and it basically amounted to "being in the hole".

After this I was in court for 7 months. The case was continuously continued. At no point was I allowed to see my son until it was over. And 1 or 2 months into the court dates, my ex showed up court seriously intoxicated on narcotics (every DA, lawyer and the judge included noticed this and whispered it). They judge did not care whatsoever and pretended not to know. My lawyer saw this when we were up speaking to the judge and I mentioned to him "What should we do about this?" and he said not to do anything.

Eventually the case was dropped, so I was basically tortured and then strung along for 7 months, simply because the plaintiff was female. The reason I say this is a fact, is because at one point I had to go to the court house to press charges for threats made by an individual and while I was allowed to do so, I was told that it would be ignored and no arrest would be made since the threat was made "over the phone". Yet, she was allowed to do that very thing and I was punished immensely for nothing but an accusation.

[jk]

I can't say I have ever heard of an inmate being required to wear a gown that is open in the back, at least for a typical inmate. Sounds a lot like a medical or psych hold.

Had you threatened to hurt yourself at some point?


and your claim that missing your meds will cause death yet you claim you were not given your meds and you are here posting. Kind of kills your veracity.

Your rendition of the facts seems a bit unbelievable. If you believe you have been treated improperly, call a few lawyers that can review the facts of the case and advise you of any actions you might have.

[Mr. Knowitall]

What was the medication?

Uncomfortable though it may be, jails and prisons aren't very good at dealing with certain controlled substances - it's not uncommon, for example, for prisoners to go through withdrawal from opiates, opioids and benzodiazepines, or even for certain anti-seizure medications to be unavailable until the need is confirmed by a prison doctor. Also, "they were told" doesn't mean much if the person doing the person doing the telling isn't your treating physician.

I agree with jk that it sounds like they found cause to keep you in a medical or observation cell, and given that they took away anything that could be used for self-harm I would infer that they had reason to believe that you were suicidal. If you indicated through words and/or acts that you were a danger to yourself, it's reasonable for a jail to take appropriate steps to make sure that you can't self-harm, even if it makes you uncomfortable.

[Chris Grooms]

What was the medication?

Uncomfortable though it may be, jails and prisons aren't very good at dealing with certain controlled substances - it's not uncommon, for example, for prisoners to go through withdrawal from opiates, opioids and benzodiazepines, or even for certain anti-seizure medications to be unavailable until the need is confirmed by a prison doctor. Also, "they were told" doesn't mean much if the person doing the person doing the telling isn't your treating physician.

I agree with jk that it sounds like they found cause to keep you in a medical or observation cell, and given that they took away anything that could be used for self-harm I would infer that they had reason to believe that you were suicidal. If you indicated through words and/or acts that you were a danger to yourself, it's reasonable for a jail to take appropriate steps to make sure that you can't self-harm, even if it makes you uncomfortable.

They had absolutely no reason to believe so other than a drug addict on methadone and other drugs' accusation that it was so. She has had a reputation since she was 14 that could have easily been brought up in court, but was not. The arresting officer told me that he had arrested her a week prior to this incident and believed that I was innocent. There was absolutely no evidence whatsoever. Definitely nothing that indicated I was anything of the sort by my own actions.

People like to assume that victims did something to bring these sorts of things on themselves, but it simply isn't the case. I have a very clean record.

As far as the medication goes, I was extremely close to what they call having a thyroid storm at that time. I was very weak, shaking uncontrollably and having various other issues related to the illness. To not provide my medication, could have very well caused a heart attack. Though these symptoms are not easily noticed up close, you could tell if you looked. I couldn't stand at the time without my whole body shaking (kind of like being really cold).

Approximately two years ago the FBI did a background check on me when I was joining Infragard (DHS/FBI organization). This took about 6 months. I was cleared and have been a member for about 4 years now. If my record wasn't clean, I wouldn't have been allowed to have access to semi-secret information in these meetings.

[Mr. Knowitall]

Nobody said you are an addict. You are the one claiming some form of drug dependency, although you still won't identify the medication. You haven't addressed either the issue of how the jail was informed of your need for the medication or why the jail might have deemed you a risk for self-harm.

[Chris Grooms]

Nobody said you are an addict. You are the one claiming some form of drug dependency, although you still won't identify the medication. You haven't addressed either the issue of how the jail was informed of your need for the medication or why the jail might have deemed you a risk for self-harm.

I absolutely hate pills. I won't even take an aspirin. It took a long time to get used to the idea of putting a drug in my body every day. Before I was diagnosed with this about two years ago, I never got sick. When I did, it was a once a year thing. Maybe the flu or a stomach virus. Even then I wouldn't take anything. I'd just let it run it's course.

The medication is methimazole (tapazole). And it is not a narcotic, nor does it create any kind of dependency. So there's zero reason not to allow someone to take it.

Without it, I experience the following:
- Increased heart rate (approx. 120 while at rest, about 110 normally)
- Sensitivity to heat (feels about 20 degrees hotter than it actually is)
- Heart palpitations
- Weakness (before being on the medication I barely had strength to make it up stairs)
- Random onset of drowsiness. Barely able to stand I'm so tired when it happens.
- Tremors/Shakes and Increased Nervousness
- Insomnia (also itching and increased heart palpitations when trying to sleep)
- Hair loss (have a thinning spot on the back part of my head now)

It feels like you're dying most of the time when it gets really bad.

I thought I said that the person that made those accusations accused me of threatening to kill her, my son and then myself.

They weren't the least bit concerned with this. They let me out three days later and never so much as mentioned any of it, not even in court. They just forced me to endure a court room for 7 months while they would do nothing but continue the case over and over again until it was finally dropped. They never addressed any concern for my safety. They knew the charges were bogus, but they punished me anyway. If they were concerned for my safety, they would have given me my medication and checked on me when I got sick in jail.

My problem is that they are not concerned for a persons safety in jail. Not in the least bit. It's very common knowledge. And the fact that they almost literally tortured me by causing significant pain and discomfort from having sleep on a concrete floor for 3 days. Without experience it may not sound that harsh, but from experience, it gets very painful.

The entire time all I could do is think to myself "If I did something to deserve this, I might understand". But I did nothing. And I had a plethora of witnesses to prove it. And also, maybe if I was actually convicted of something, but I was only accused. By someone with a history of psychological problems and drug abuse.

[jk]

so, since you did not have a thyroid storm, were there any permanent, or even long lasting effects from being denied your medication?

It still sounds like there is some other reason for how they treated you such as a psych evaluation. The clothing, the isolation, the 3 days (72 hour psych hold?)

You did make an odd comment though. While you said this:

Note: I do not have a record of any kind. I am clean. Nor have I ever done anything to have a criminal record.

You went on to say this:

As is usual, my clothes were taken and so were my glasses. I was dressed in a robe that exposed my backside and placed in a cell with no bed and nothing but a toilet. There was a camera in the room

. the only place I know anything even close to that would be considered as usual was in a ward that performed psych evaluations. It surely isn't usual for a typical jail ward.

Are you sure the mother didn't claim you were going to kill yourself or some other act that would justify a psych evaluation?

The best I can suggest would be to speak with a lawyer locally that can review all of the facts of the case.

[That Guy]

Are you sure the mother didn't claim you were going to kill yourself or some other act that would justify a psych evaluation?

He did...

I thought I said that the person that made those accusations accused me of threatening to kill her, my son and then myself.

[jk]

He did...

he added that in an edit at 7:36 during which time, I was likely typing my post which posted at 7:39.

[That Guy]

he added that in an edit at 7:36 during which time, I was likely typing my post which posted at 7:39.

That smiley was a "wink" as in "it appears to have been a 'psych hold'" rather than a "grin" as in "you missed that one"...