Gordon Graham
Category: Corrections
Gordon Graham here with Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Today’s Tip is for all my friends in corrections. I’d like to talk about getting inmates with serious health issues transported to the hospital quickly.
When people are in custody, the responsibility for their health and safety rests with medical staff, facility staff, and administrators.
“Failure to act not only poses a risk to the inmate’s health but can also lead to significant legal consequences for your staff and the facility.”
A recent federal appeals court decision highlights a tragic outcome resulting from delayed emergency medical transport. The case involved a female inmate with a known serious health condition. The facility she was in implemented a cost-cutting measure that required jail staff to obtain a personal recognizance bond before transporting. In spite of the inmate’s obvious symptoms, facility policy slowed the process of getting the inmate to the hospital, resulting in her death.
There are some key takeaways here. First, document all medical needs promptly. This begins at intake and continues throughout the inmate’s period of confinement in your facility.
Second, it’s essential that inmates with health concerns be properly evaluated by a qualified health care professional. This includes providing necessary medication, following up on inmate medical needs, and transporting them to an outside medical facility for care when necessary.
Lastly, if an inmate is injured or falls ill and requires urgent medical care, emergency transportation must not be delayed. Facilities should have protocols in place that prioritize health over cost to provide for those in need of immediate emergency medical care. This isn’t just about liability; it’s about doing the right thing.
Remember, failure to act not only poses a risk to the inmate’s health but can also lead to significant legal consequences for your staff and the facility. Let’s make sure our actions reflect our commitment to the care and custody of those we’re entrusted to protect.
And that’s Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Until next time, Gordon Graham signing off.
