Health Horror Stories
"These stories of health abuse are not independently verified by the editors of this website. However, all of the women have agreed to a HIPPA release to any qualified attorney willing to take their case, or to an investigative reporter from the media."
Did Grave Shift Officer ROGERS Walk by Naked Inmate in Medical Distress?
(A group of women on Charley bay tell this alleged incident.) Robin is the name of a stage 4 cancer patient who needs oxygen to survive. Robin had been complaining about a fever the night before, and this could be why in the middle of the night she had thrown off all her clothes. Unfortunately, witnesses allege her oxygen tube was also off, which might explain the groaning they heard from her, and her apparent distress. Robin’s neighbors say, Officer Rogers repeatedly walked passed Robin’s cube during patrols and did not check on Robin even though she was naked and moaning.
One cube mate finally called out, “Hey Rogers, this woman needs medical attention.” they allege the officer said, “I’m going to finish my walk”. When they insisted, Rogers said, ” She’ll just refuse, and I don’t think there’s anyone in medical anyway.”
According to the ladies in C bay, a nurse arrived just before dawn and took Robin to medical. For unexplained reasons, she was brought back to her cube. Then, reportedly, when the morning shift of medical professionals arrived about 7:30am, Robin was wheeled back to medical and then the ambulance showed up at 8:20am to take her to the hospital.
Maricopa County Jail Takes Blind Woman’s Cane! Then Perryville Gives Her a Walker???
Joanna is 100% blind. When she was arrested on an ancient parole violation, she had her collapsible white cane with the red tip, universally recognized as a blind person’s “eyes”. The jail guards took her cane away claiming she could use it as a weapon. How? She can’t see to hit anyone! All those idiots did was TAKE AWAY HER EYES!
We did some research to find out Maricopa allows seeing people keep their canes, but in their infinite wisdom….takes away the blind ones’ cane!? Who could be more stupid than Maricopa jail? Why Perryville prison of course! Instead of getting her blind stick back from the jail, or ordering a new one, OR giving her a wheelchair in the interim, they give her a WALKER! Talk about an IQ of room temperature. The woman is healthy, she doesn’t need a walker…..she needs a cane to see where she’s going. But, no, San Carlos Medical reportedly was reluctant to give her something useful like a wheelchair.
Fortunately for Joanna, her mother is also on San Carlos and she is some raging Mama Bear! When Mom found out her “cub” was being mistreated, Carlos Medical was in a world of hurt:-) Joanna’s mom “acquired” a wheelchair, went to battle with medical when they tried to put her baby in the SNU (special needs unit, again she’s not sick, she’s blind) and roared her displeasure about Joanna not having a cube, and meals delivered until she could get her cane.
Allegedly, the medical department thought Joanna was “faking” being totally blind because when she was in Perryville in 2009, she had sight in one eye. Duh. Nothing can happen in 15 years?? Someone with a brain finally noticed Joanna’s eyes were “nonreactive to light”, that means blind, people.
This has a happy ending…..reportedly, Joanna has a wheelchair, cane is on order, cube is ready, and she will be enrolled in the braille program. Never underestimate a Mother’s love.
Naphcare Gives, and Naphcare Takes Away
(Follow up article on “Did Naphcare do something right?“)
Well, that didn’t take long. About 3 weeks ago we announced Naphcare’s new continuity of care program, where each inmate was assigned her own ” team” of Provider, RN, and CNA. The women were wild with appreciation and gave us statements on how wonderful this was for their medical care. The main reason for all this irrational exuberance was, that they would see the same provider and not have to see a new one each time they went to medical. One might guess Naphcare was briefly trying to impress someone…..we wonder who. At any rate, it’s over now, and we’re back to the same ol’ shit.
Did Naphcare do something right??
OMG. We received a bunch of communications within the last 24 hours, about Naphcare implementing a new Provider network. Each resident is now assigned her own "team" of Provider, RN, and CNA. She sees her team each time she goes to Medical and her HNR requests are...
No-Care-Naphcare posts inmate health info online!
As reported by the Arizona Republic on Oct 2nd, Naphcare training guides, posted online some inmates' images, name, medications, and diagnosis, visible to anyone with a browser. ACLU attorneys found this while researching medical record systems used by state prisons....
The Death Van
Why do the ladies at Perryville call it that? This particular van is described by the residents as ancient, filthy, no a/c or heat, and NO STEP STOOL as required by policy. Try this in your van or truck tomorrow.... first put a belly chain on, then handcuff your arms...
San Carlos Women Going Blind
No judge sentenced these three women to a life of blindness, but incompetence by Carlos staff, and No Care Naphcare, has increased the odds of total vision loss for the women. Patient #1: Had cataract surgery at the American Eye Center in May of this year. The patient...
ACLU Source: “Appalled by Carlos Medical Department”
Reportedly, ACLU staff were shaken and appalled when they found out there was only ONE full-time Provider during the week, and one part-time Provider on the weekends, for THIRTEEN HUNDRED and EIGHTY women! No Care Naphcare is getting worse, not better. So many women...
What is Director Thornell thinking?
We've been hearing for almost two years now, how Thornell wants to improve the nutrition of his residents. We were overjoyed when we heard Aramark was taking over but assumed that meant the commissary too.....not so fast. Aramark only produces the food in the KITCHEN,...
ACLU coming to Perryville before Judge Silver’s big decision
The ACLU always gets its ducks in a row before going to court. In the long-running Jensen v Thornell lawsuit this is especially important. Judge Silver announced she would render a major decision in the case toward the end of August. Lawyers for the ACLU will be...
Reuters: Naphcare had the highest DEATH RATE of inmates!
Reutors News published a report that reviewed 500 jails and prisons and found that Naphcare had the highest death rate among healthcare contractors. The runners-up in the death march were Corizon, Wellpath, and PrimeCare. Despite this dismal performance, AZDOC awarded...
GOOD NEWS, Perryville resident gets multi million dollar settlement!
(We love these stories. Very seldom does the lowly inmate get what she deserves, so this was pure vindication) Robin found out yesterday from the Court, that she had been awarded 6 million dollars from her medical lawsuit in compensatory and monetary damages. This...
Pregnant Women Starved and Neglected in Perryville!
(Editorial note: To the Pro-Life Republicans in this (still) red state. If you really value the unborn and support young mothers, then why do you let incarcerated women be hungry, and neglect their medical needs? These are three women telling the same story.) "I'm...
Carlos Medical Gives NO Pain Meds to Cancer Patient!
(She wrote us this letter and begged to have her real name in the story. Ed.) "My name is Robin Leigh Kulp. I am housed at Perryville prison, San Carlos unit. On 3-25-24 I was having trouble breathing, and having serious chest pain. My legs were throbbing, aching, and...
No-Care Naphcare the Worst EVER!
(We thought after the ACLU descended on Perryville March 14th, that Naphcare would have the fear of the Lord instilled in them. Oh no, they actually got worse toward the inmates. These are snippets of stories we're working on.) M.L. went in for her chronic care...
I was in prison for 17years and have seen so many people die in front of me It’s traumatic and I have PTSD from it. Medical never helped me for my heart problems, never took tests, just told me I have congested heart failure and didn’t do anything for me. I saw it every day. They never helped us, made us always feel like we were lying and would send us away. Making people work in the kitchen who have scoliosis, heart problems, people who have AIDS and Hep C as well as other STDs. There’s rat poop on our kitchen food, birds all over our trays that we eat off of making us all even sicker, black mold everywhere. We can’t breathe in our cells due to all the mold and crud in our walls, vents, and coolers. They are trying to kill us – they don’t care and the money they get for us does not go to us. There is so much more.
I’ve been sexually attacked by the CO police officers twice. I have my whole life to account for in there and I’m surprised I made it out after 17years. They have medium inmates on max yards getting assaulted and they don’t care. They say it is due to no room. They also send you to max yard as punishment without ever getting tickets. It’s all retaliation. They will ruin your life if you don’t do what they want. They make up lies, yep the sergeants, if you refuse to work because you don’t feel good. I heard a Sergeant say “Oh you’re going to hurt yourself” then cuff her up and put her in isolation when the girl never said it. I’ve seen it all, believe that.
Hi Cynthia! I’m not sure if you’ll see this but I am so sorry for what you went through. Thank you for sharing a glimpse of your story. I would love to ask you questions as I am exploring ideas for my doctoral capstone and am interested in issues in the AZ Women’s Prison. Is there any way we could talk further?
That was my friend 😭 she was cool ag and funny. I feel bad I had to leave San Carlos for Cruz. But fck their medical center, the whole prison is fucked up and corrupted. I’ve been out for 8 months now and I still remember everything like yesterday especially with health care. Like can the prison do an upgrade and fix their shit or will more ppl have to die like my friend here? It’s fucked up because I knew she was having a hard time in the beginning getting her shots. We both came from the same county. She wasn’t even a criminal like person. She was fun, bright and very smart, like she could’ve went to college. She had alot planned for herself…damn I love Jowell thank for the laughs and being a loyal friend. Rest in Paradise
Yeah, she was a very cool person to know. She would hug you when she saw you with a big smile. She was always cool to everyone, no hate or anger in her heart but she probably did towards ADOC health employees
I was incarcerated for 9 years and just released March 2024. In 2019, my stomach swelled up and I looked 9 months pregnant. They told me I had impacted stool and had me drink a laxative. The pain got worse, I couldn’t breath or walk and this went on for 2 months. My family contacted the ACLU and prison and finally in February 2020 I was sent to the hospital and diagnosed with Stage 3 Ovarian cancer. I was in the hospital for 10 days and started chemo. I went back to the prison and was expecting chemo every 3 weeks. It took over a 3 weeks for me to get scheduled for my next chemo. In May, I had just came back from chemo and was told I was packing up and being sent to San Carlos. I had to load and unload all of my belongings after a day of chemo and was being transferred to a yard with 1300 women. I then had surgery to remove the cancer in July and once released from the hospital was sent to Maria and put in a cell, by myself with no A/C. I had to move everything by myself and carry a chair out to take a shower. I had an incision from belly button to my pubic bone. Finally after 2 weeks, I was sent back to Carlos. I was told later that I had peritoneal cancer and not ovarian, after I had had a complete hysterectomy. I never had a follow up PET scan to make sure the cancer was gone. In March of 2023, I started seeing a new oncologist, Dr. Benjamin and he finally ordered a PET scan and saw that I had cancer again in the same area of my stomach. I had surgery again in May and started six rounds of chemo. Between the medical Dr’s John and Johnson my medical treatment at the prison was horrible. They didn’t give me anything but Tylenol and Excedrin for the pain and I had to fight to get an extra mattress and extra milk for protein shakes. If I didn’t have my family to support me and stand up for me I would have died. I applied for clemency 2 times and because I wasn’t dying in 3 months, I was refused. Something needs to change with the health system and prison.