Refusing Medical Treatment

[cookiedough]

Recently on a debate board I frequent a story came up about a woman who was pulled over by police, when they saw her putting a fake temporary tag in her windsheild. The woman told them she was on her way to the ER because she was 3-4 months pregnant and bleeding. The police officers told her that wasn't their problem and refused to allow her to get medical attention. She told them many times she was bleeding and needed help and offered to show them proof but she was blown off. She was then taken to jail where she was made to sit for another 12 hours again being refused medical help. Finally after she kept bleeding all over herself and passed a large blood clot they took her to the ER where she delivered her son prematurely and he did a minute later. My question is are police allowed to refuse to let someone have medical care when they ask for it? How about the people in charge at the jail, are they allowed to refuse to give a prisoner medical care?

[jk]

My question is are police allowed to refuse to let someone have medical care when they ask for it? How about the people in charge at the jail, are they allowed to refuse to give a prisoner medical care?

Yes they are BUT they can be held liable for that refusal if those actions are responsible for a deleterious effect.

In a jail/prison system, it is not uncommon for an inmate to request medical aid when it is not required to either cause problems for the jailers or to avoid work details or other situations. The jailers must make a reasonable call as to whether treatment is actually required or merely sought for other reasons. If they fail to make the correct call, they can be held accountable for the results if there was a reasonable belief the treatment was actually neccessary.

[cookiedough]

Thank you for your response. In an updated article I found out today that the two officers have been suspended due to them violating their departments policy on seeking medical treatment for someone requesting it, and there will be an investigation.

[CivilStandBy]

cops can do anything they want. Because they CAN. They pick on the working man and should be arresting the Financial Terrorist like CEO's of Enron and the like, But nooooooooooo. They get away with it too because they can. We have been lied to for hundred year. America doesn ot exist. it is America Incorporated! Bring back the Queeen!

[cdwjava]

You do realize you responded to a post that is over a year old, right?

cops can do anything they want. Because they CAN. They pick on the working man and should be arresting the Financial Terrorist like CEO's of Enron and the like, But nooooooooooo. They get away with it too because they can. We have been lied to for hundred year. America doesn ot exist. it is America Incorporated! Bring back the Queeen!

This rant has nothing to do with the original poster's dilemma. If you are going to post, at least PRETEND to stay on point instead of posting this tripe.

There is a social thread at the bottom of these boards. If you wish to rant about the police, use those folders.

- Carl