Another Dead Inmate

A week ago another inmate passed away while in DOC’s custody. It was another death that could have been avoided. “Keith,” a maintenance worker at the VCE factory, had been complaining of stomach pains for over a year. Medical repeatedly refused his request for outside medical treatment with a gastroenterologist. Two weeks ago, unable to leave his bunk, his family’s demands for medical treatment were met and he was taken to MCV Hospital in Richmond. Five days ago, he died of liver cancer. His family has retained an attorney.

Medical care in prison is abysmal. The Commonwealth contracts its obligation to provide medical care to those it incarcerates out to private contractors. The contactors lose money when treatment is required by specialist. No specialist equals more profit. It also means inmates die.

Where is the justice in that? Who will bear responsibility for Keith’s death? Maybe it doesn’t matter. After all, he was “just an inmate.”