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."
What it’s like to watch my 2 friends die…F**K you Naphcare
“This must be part of the punishment that the DOC promises you get during your incarceration. On the outside, if your friends are in hospice, you can visit when you’re up to it and process it afterward with a martini. Here in Perryville, there is no escape…..I have to watch as my friends die slowly from cancer right before my eyes. And there’s no martini. Nothing to soften the anguish of seeing Rebecca and Melissa disintegrate from the ravages of cancer, one of the stomach and the other of the parathyroid. Both cancers that never would have existed were it not for the for-profit, prison health vendor Naphcare.
You’ve read their stories on this blog, at least about the medical angle and how these cancers were so preventable in their early stages. Recently, Melissa finally got to see an ENT physician for the first time. She describes the doctor’s incredulous looks as he reviewed her records and kept asking her, ” And this is the first time in four years you’ve seen an Ear Nose Throat specialist? ” Then Melissa said, “You’re the first DOCTOR I’ve seen in four years.” Melissa said the physician was so angry he turned red. But by then the doctor knew she’d had cancer for quite awhile, and it was probably inoperable.
That’s the medical part….how about the personal story of these ladies? Melissa was practically still on her honeymoon when she was sent to Perryville. Her devoted husband has been her rock and visits regularly. The prison returns his once healthy bride to him riddled with cancer.
Rebecca has a strong family that had many plans for her return, but those plans will revolve around hospice….. IF she even makes it out of prison alive. The prognosis for Rebecca is not good. She spends her time begging the prison for basics like a softer mattress so she doesn’t get bedsores. So far no luck with that. Rebecca has done grievances so the prison will at least acknowledge people with disabilities. The pedestrian gate to travel to the vehicle gate, is not even paved…..rocks, dirt, potholes, so easy to stumble and fall from a walker or cane.
Hospice out there offers COMFORT, hospice inside offers STRUGGLE and PAIN. And then there’s the pain of the friends who have to watch. I can tell you from experience, watching is no picnic….it turns you into a real Debbie downer.
So, when you get the time, call your state legislature or Ryan Thornell himself, and continue to advocate for all the women of Perryville.”
Break Them Bones No Care Naphcare…TWICE
Two stories, in a huge list of similar orthopedic stories from Perryville.
Patient #1 fell at the kitchen and came down hard on her knee. She received the usual dismissive treatment from medical, with no ice chrono or promise of an x-ray. Her knee was the size of a basketball for a week before the nurses would even look at it. They put her off for 6 weeks before giving her an x-ray, and finding out the knee was broken in 2 places. Another 3 months went by before she saw a real doctor. He shook his head and told her he’d have to re-break it and do extensive reconstruction before she could walk on it again.
Patient #2 fared no better with her broken wrist. Medical had no time for an x-ray until 2 months later, and that showed her wrist broken in two with a chip out. Another two months for “urgent” orthopedic consult, and the doctor was amazed the prison let her arm knit crooked, with her fingers being numb. The orthopedic doctor said this would require extensive complex surgery to even restore partial use of her wrist and fingers.
Naphcare cripples.
Lori’s Strip Mall Surgeon
Lori has extreme arthritis that affects her joints, especially the hands. Six months ago she had a reputable surgeon in a hospital reconstruct her right hand….it went well.
Since then, Naphcare has had cost cutting front and center. Lori was thinking she was returning to the same place and doctor for her left hand, but she grew concerned as her van parked in a strange part of town. They went to a strip mall with the usual fast food joints, and one sign that only said “surgeon”.
The guards took her through the back alley where she met a surgeon she’d never seen before. The nurses (?) took her history and wrote down her allergies. It was plain the prison hadn’t supplied this doctor with any information about his new patient he was about to operate on.
When Lori explained the complex surgery she received on her other hand, the doctor said, ” Uh, I don’t do that kinda work. I just cut the nerves so you don’t feel pain.” Lori was horrified but was afraid to refuse for a host of reasons, retaliation being one of them. As she vacillated, the doctor grew impatient and said, “Ya wanna get rid of the pain or what?!” So, against her better judgment she complied.
Lori told the staff TWICE she was allergic to all opiates, Demerol, Morphine, ect. They put a red band on her wrist. At some point during the operation they injected her with Demerol, and she went into anaphylaxis shock!! Who didn’t see the red band on her wrist?!! They had to yank out her breathing tube, causing trauma, pushed Benadryl into her to stop the reaction.
The guards carried Lori, who was in a stupor, into the van and back to the prison, where they unceremoniously dumped her on a bed with no medical supervision for four hours!! The next morning her left arm was wrapped up, but no instructions given.
She started to really drink water, the Demerol was still in her system, and that’s when she had a secondary anaphylaxis incident where her throat closed up. A college educated inmate knew enough to keep her airway open, call for 911 and direct them to give her an epi pen before the ambulance arrived. The bay officer and so-called nurses had NO IDEA what to do to save Lori’s life….but a smart inmate did. The next few days for Lori were painful. Besides the surgery, she had sores inside her mouth and throat from the shock.
No Care Naphcare, how do you sleep at night?
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.