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."
Are These Some Of The Reasons Perryville Residents Have Such An Alarming Rate Of Cancer?
This took some deep digging, and investigative interviews to finally nail down what is labeled “Not for human consumption”. The prevailing answer was it’s the “mechanically separated chicken” inmates call shmeat.
But no! It is something much more diabolical, and so hush-hush, that even the white shirts won’t talk about it. It comes in a brown cardboard box, unlabeled except for the initials TVP. What is this? Textured Vegetable Protein.
The reason it’s an issue is that the product contains HEXANE which is used in the manufacturing process. HEXANE is a known carcinogen. This is the stuff that is mixed with the chicken parts to make it go farther.
The only fake sweetener available to prisoners, both in the kitchen and on the commissary, is Aspartame/Saccharin. The FDA says this is a carcinogen.
Keefe makes three shampoos, two body washes, and a dandruff product marketed to prisoners. ALL of them contain *pyrethezone zinc* and *cocamide DEA* . These chemicals are outlawed in 14 states and the FDA requires a warning label on all products. (California inmates can’t buy them because they’re banned)
Warden, Would You Eat In A Restaurant That Had No Dishwasher?
We were astounded to learn that San Carlos has NO DISHWASHER. How that escaped our attention for so long is mystifying, but we recently had a slew of letters about it.
In interviewing residents that worked at Carlos kitchen, we were able to get a clear picture of the “dishwashing” procedure. There are 3 sinks….the 1st sink is where they spray off the food on the tray. The next step with the 2nd sink is an alleged “disinfectant” which they are dunked in, then on to the 3rd sink of rinse water.
The people interviewed said they were rushed by the Trinity staff and couldn’t thoroughly clean the trays. Reportedly, the cups and sporks were only given a cursory rinse.
Several letters divulged alleged mold growing profusely in and around food prep tables. Guess who is calling the Health Department? US!
No-Care Naphcare sued for $26.75 Million!
This was the verdict in Washington State, for the death of Cindy Hill after being denied care for a ruptured a intestine. Naphcare was accused of “subjecting inmates to risk of serious harm” and “putting profits over the medical wellbeing of inmates.”
The complaint declared Hill’s condition was treatable and her death preventable. Ms. Hill was found in her cell in a fetal position on the floor screaming in pain. Unable to stand or walk she was dragged across the floor on a blanket to see Naphcare’s RN. The nurse gave her no treatment. Later that day Hill was found dead in a pool of blood and vomit.
What will Naphcare nurses do to YOUR loved one at Perryville? It might be wise to call/write Governor Hobbs to get this vicious vendor out of Arizona prisons.
DOC gets ultimatum on deal for healthcare
Below is a link to the article published by Lauren Castle in the Arizona Republic on October 16 detailing the orders from a federal judge regarding the DOC failure to comply with the settlement involving healthcare for people in state prisons. It's been 5 years and...
I was hooked up to a broken EKG machine during my heart attack!
Dateline Santa Maria: This is L.B.'s story, corroborated by her daughter. "I am a 50-year-old woman with a history of hypertension. In the last 2 years at Santa Maria, I have struggled with Medical to get my blood pressure under control. My everyday range, with...
They Said I was Faking My Broken Leg – by D.M.
Dateline Lumley: A 62-year-old woman wrote, "I fell down the stairs and my leg really, really hurt. Because I have a high tolerance for pain I thought it was just bruised. I refused initial treatment because I couldn't afford the $4.00 to see medical. The pain got...
You Wouldn’t Wish it on a Dog – Sold
In the good old summertime...
Waiting – SOLD
So, you think you have a long wait at the doctor's office?
Women in Inmate Patient Care denied showers and toiletries – by P.U.R
I.P.C. (Inmate Patient Care) is the 18-bed infirmary located on Lumley unit. This is how a 65 year-old stroke victim described her 2-week stay there. "I had a stroke in March 2019. When you come to I.P.C. from the hospital, the guards don't let you have any of your...
Open Heart Surgery Denied! – T.H.
I sustained infective endocarditis from dental work done at Perryville because they refused pre-treatment antibiotics. knowing that I have heart valve problems. This caused damage to my aortic root. Aortic root surgery is very grave and risky. The Mayo Clinic only...
Medical Neglect Leads to Open Heart Surgery
For 2 years, 53-year old T.H. tried to tell Santa Cruz medical that she has a severe heart problem. Medical said "Prove it." and she said, "Ask for my records, or do an echocardiogram that does prove it." Instead, they gave her a major ticket for refusing to work in...
Why do so many women on our yard have green discharge? by N.M.
Three of our younger women on one yard have green fluid exuding from their breast/nipple. All medical does is prescribe and antibiotic withour testing to find the root cause. The other yards at Santa Cruz are reporting the same problem. Why is this so prevalent in...
They’re going to wait until my lump is malignant! – by J.J.
For 3 months I've had a lump in my breast with a greenish discharge from the nipple. Corizon (Medical) won't get a biopsy for it because "it's too expensive and it's probably a cyst anyway." How large will it have to be before I'm seen by a real M.D? Update: After...
They’ve given me a death sentence, twice over – by T.B.
I am the product of cancer three-times over (in prison.) Being a non-recipient of adequate care, as well as normal human decency, from all involved, including medical professionals. So, in all reality, I was given a life sentence of over and over. I am only 65 years...
Leukemia Mistaken for Flu at Lumley – by T.M
Death isn't just for the old, they kill the young too, P. was a 20-year-old vibrant young woman when she arrived at the prison. After a few months, she grew more fatigued and tired. For 5 months she begged Medical to take lab tests to find out what was wrong with her....
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.