As reported in two compelling columns by The Eagle’s Mark McCormick, the details of the recent death of 41-year-old inmate Alexis McCullough at the Wichita Work Release Facility were appalling. Inmate or not, McCullough clearly was suffering and needed help. The disciplinary action and words of apology offered Friday by Kansas Secretary of Corrections Roger Werholtz were apt, as he said, "for the role some of our staff may have played in the failure to provide timely access to appropriate medical care. There is no acceptable explanation for what occurred."
Posted by Rhonda Holman
4 Comments
While we are looking at the State we should also examine the Sedgwick County Jail. It is their policy to withhold life-saving medications from inmates until their interminable paperwork works its way through the system. That can take several days. Meanwhile, daily medication for heart conditions, stroke, etc, is denied.
The danger of this policy has been pointed out to County and City officials; they turn a deaf ear. I suppose someone needs to die before any one will notice.
This has been a tragedy waiting to happen. I’ve heard horror stories about the lack of care in the jails for those who are physically or mentally ill. It’s a disgrace when a inmate can’t get assess to their insulin and other much needed medications or no medical help when they are clearly having a crisis. I hope heads roll and the family of the dead inmate gets a huge settlement from this.
Wecome to the government.
And Bush can’t fire Rumsfeld for sending our troops into battle without body-armor?