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."Terminal Cancer Patient, Formerly in Hospice, “in Agony” at Perryville’s San Carlos
(Ed. note: We have seen the patient’s original X-ray report and copy of the letter she sent to the Prison Law Office, and of course, we did a one-on-one interview. This article starts with an overview of her situation taken from the letter to Prison Law.)
“My name is Robin and I’ve been diagnosed with stage 4 breast, bone, and lung cancer. That diagnosis was given to me by Maricopa County Hospital, while I was an inmate in jail in June 2023. Before that I was in Hospice of the Valley in Mesa. While I was in Maricopa jail, they gave me too much methadone and I overdosed. I fell off the gurney and broke my neck.
When I was sent to Perryville prison I was immediately put into the SNU, their version of hospice. That was September 2023, and Dr. Ibrahim received my full records from hospice and jail as he was in charge of IPC and SNU. I was then sent off-site to an oncologist at Ironwood. She confirmed the hospital’s diagnosis but added I was too weak for chemotherapy and radiation, and wanted me to continue with hospice. At this time my lung is deteriorating and I’m in extreme pain. I’m confined to a wheelchair and require diapers. My story gets worse in October 2023.
“I filed for Medical Clemency in October, but I needed my records to be sent with it. Provider Malcolm called me to Carlos medical to tell me, ” There are no medical records that say I have cancer. The medical Director Dr. Ibrahim might have taken them, but he’s no longer here.” This was the middle of November. Providers John and Malcolm both said my medical records were sent to the Clemency Board when I applied on December 1, 2023.
I was denied on 1-16-24, but I don’t believe the correct records were sent to the board, because I just found out the prison lists me AS A BLACK MALE! (I’m white with blue eyes). The X-Ray request taken on 1-8-24, has my correct birthday, ADC number, and name, but under Race: B. Sex M.!! On 1-24-24 I asked a COIII to look me up on the prison computer to see if it was fixed….. wait for it….now I’m a BLACK WOMAN. Who knows what medical records the Clemency Board got, but it wasn’t mine. I’m asking Prison Law to find my correct medical records so I can file another Clemency appeal as I’m scared of dying in here of neglect. (end part 2)
The differences in quality of care are significant. In hospice, I received enough morphine to block all pain, was on constant oxygen, and got plenty of breathing treatments. In SNU I believe my morphine was cut in half to 200mg/day, which only blunted the constant pain. Oxygen was only administered when my level dropped below 82. At San Carlos under Malcolm and Johns, morphine is rationed out to only 120mg/day which leaves me in CONSTANT agony. I’m not on oxygen at all, and receive no breathing treatments.
On 1-25-24 an ICS was called because I had chest pains, numbed left arm, and coughing up blood. They wheeled me to medical where an EKG confirmed I had an irregular heartbeat. My oxygen was horribly low at 72. You’d think they would call 911, but both providers refused saying I wasn’t coughing blood anymore, and oxygen got my score to 89. They sent me back to my bunk.
I know my crying disturbs the people around me, but the pain from advanced cancer is unrelenting. Why does the DOC treat people so callously?
I’m hoping my story gets out to the media and advocates everywhere, so no one else has to die like this.”
When is Deliberate Indifference Like Murder? How a 26-Year-Old Died at San Carlos
(Jowell Jones was only 26 years old with her whole life ahead of her when she was tragically cut down by alleged negligent health care. Many girls close to her were interviewed for this story, so this is a composite of those observations. Only first-hand eyewitness accounts are recorded. Witness stories were not verified by medical staff, nor were they available for comment.)
Over the summer of 2023, Jowell became ill with fatigue, nausea, and bloating, and had trouble even keeping water down. Her close friend said she lay there on her bunk for 3 weeks not eating and turning yellow. (jaundice.) Jowell became thin and gaunt….. described as “skin and bones”. Her friends report she put in one HNR after another, and when seen by medical, received the usual ” drink more water.”
Finally, when a blood test was done Ms. Jones was rushed to the hospital 911. The women in C2 estimate she was gone for 2 and a half months, with that time apparently spent between the hospital and IPC. During the time in hospital, she was diagnosed with leukemia and was treated with chemotherapy.
When she returned to the yard she was described as thriving and “her usual perky self.” In October of 2023, Jones received the good news that she was in remission and cancer-free! Allegedly, she complained her treatment at Carlos medical was “hit and miss.”
On Christmas day Jowell started another downward spiral with nausea, vomiting, and blisters on her lips. Jowell told Provider Johns that this felt just like “last time” and she couldn’t eat anything. Johns told her this was just a reaction to chemo and to go “back to your bunk and drink more water.” Soon, Jones developed huge swollen lips, with blood leaking out of them. She was so embarrassed that she started to wear a mask to reduce stares.
On January 10th, during one of these begging trips to medical, Steve Madrid felt pity on her and started an IV to help with her dehydration. He also observed a huge (twice the size of a softball) black growth on her calf. By this time her gums were the color of chocolate, and swelling so bad there was no way she could eat.
Allegedly, when she told a guard (we have his name) that she needed a wheelchair to get back to her cube, this guard said, “You need to walk, you’re not life or death ya know.” (Actually, the poor girl only had 36 hours to live, this incident was January 10th). Two friends held her up for the walk back. This was the way they described her “The bleeding lips, black growth on her leg, completely jaundiced, and she was bleeding so profusely out of the IV wound, that blood covered her shirt and pants.” Reportedly, only 20 minutes passed before medical called her back….they had just gotten her most recent lab results. This time Jones was in a wheelchair and was told she was going to the hospital.
You readers thought she went out 911? Oh contrare’! This woman endured 5 hours of AGONY sitting in medical waiting for a prison van and transport team. Why did it take so long? They “are short-staffed on transport guards.” Why not call an ambulance? Could it be about money???
Jowell Jones fought for her life until her family removed artificial means of keeping her alive, at 11:45pm January 13th 2024. Only 26 years old. Only had 9 months left to serve on a DUI. Another life ended in Perryville.
(Ed. note: The other allegation raised by her close friends, that we can’t verify is Three people say Jowell was desperate for a chemo treatment that was 4 weeks late. She asked why and Naphcare said, “Our pharmacy is out of that medication now.” When someone’s life is on the line, Naphcare should have found that chemotherapy drug somewhere, anywhere, and administered it to her.)
Woman Suffering Weeks Of Severe Mental Breakdown, And They Don’t Care, And They Do Nothing
A minimum security dorm-style warehouse has 8×6 cubes in 12 rows x 12 columns. The cube is completely open because the partitions of this living space only come up to your hip. The security cameras can see, the guards can see, and all the residents can see every cube. There is absolutely no privacy.
A 47-year-old woman gyrates in her cube to tunes no one can hear but her. She changes tempo and strips to her underwear. This turns into a dirty dancing routine. I’m praying for a guard to come by and stop the madness so she can get help. The guards come, but they walk by without a glance in her direction. Now, she’s tearing every piece of paper into bits and throwing it on her bed. Her dances are frenetic activity… touchdown gestures…pointing to the ceiling… gangster moves..acting out shooting a gun…repeat. Her voices tell her to get on the floor to fold and refold a rag. There’s quite a conversation going on with all the imaginary people in her head. She’s wearing herself out trying to be all the people in this group….jump there…move back..talk to someone over there…no over here.
The neighbors in adjoining cubes are numb to it. Or they’re tired of watching. Or are they afraid they might be next?
Last time they came to get her was awful. (Please see article *The most BRUTAL thing I’ve ever seen in Perryville*) But they brought her back after 72 hours, no counseling, no medication. This mentally ill person has 3 more years of incarceration. I’m trying to imagine what she’ll be like if, and when she gets out. Will she be like some women I see going to the gate, with the thousand-yard stare? A walking zombie? Will she kill herself like the woman did on Cruz recently?
This country doesn’t care about its most vulnerable citizens, and red states like Arizona care even less.
Diabetics in Danger for Their Health on Lumley
Due to DW Bendel's rules about 'escorting' women everywhere, we have letters from diabetics warning of serious consequences to their health. Even in the midst of a critical staff shortage, Bendel insists on a guard to go with the women everywhere. Diabetics must be...
Nightmare on Shingles Street
(This is a true story by one of our favorite reporters on Lumley---Ed.) "At age 71, I take chest pain seriously. On Monday morning I told the guards I was experiencing severe chest pain. I was transferred to medical via wheelchair immediately. The nurse hooked me up...
DOC fined another $1 million dollars for lack of compliance in prison medical care
(From a story in AZ Republic newspaper 2-26-21) Judge Roslyn Silver found the DOC in contempt for failing to comply with the Order issued May 2019. This time the state will pay 1.1 million in 14 days. Parsons v Ryan is the lawsuit that claimed inadequate medical,...
Incidents of self-harm skyrocket in AZ prisons
The mental health of inmates in Arizona is deteriorating at an alarming rate. It seems like suicide is neck and neck with COVID to see who wins. The Arizona Republic quoted KJZZ's article about self-harm in prison, reporting an increase of 360% more cases this year!!...
Lumley, the ass end of Peeville
I'm starting the HALL OF SHAME for guards who refuse to wear masks here. L. Garcia, lets start with you. This guard went his entire shift with no mask! There will be more. Today started with my morning jog as usual. I'm as deaf as a post, but I could hear a loud...
More medical nightmares
Dateline Cruz: I was diagnosed with back injury and anklosing spondilitis. I resisted the spinal shots they wanted to give me, but I was in 24 hour unrelenting pain. The first shot went ok but did not give me pain relief. The 2nd almost killed me. When the doctor put...
RN Nurse on Lumley Gets Our Vote
As the best health care professional this quarter. I watched NURSE D'ANTONIO (forgive me if I spelled that wrong), work with mentally challenged inmates on B yard, with compassion and understanding. She never talked down to them or treated them with contempt, nor did...
Update on Tiffany
Sources close to Tiffany said she continued to have severe seizures at Carlos. They said recently that Tiffany was suffering terrible pain and inflammation at her mastectomy site. She showed her friends, so there would be witnesses, of her horribly disfigured top...
Tiffany’s Cancer Travail
Another botched diagnosis, with accompanying malpractice, by DOC's medical provider. We'll let Tiffany tell her own story. She had the foresight to compile a diary. "In April of 2020, I noticed a lump in my right breast. I immediately put in an HNR to have it...
“I lay on the hot cement for hours with a broken back and leg!”
Dateline Lumley: We were suspicious of this story until we saw the legal paperwork from her lawyer that confirmed it. This is her post. " In December of 2019, I was struggling with one of the cell doors that wouldn't close. In that effort, I fell to the floor abruptly...
RATS taking over Perryville!
We posted a story on Sept 26th about rats at complex kitchen, but since then people have reported severe rat infestations at all units. An eyewitness at SANTA CRUZ files this story. "The rats started invading the grounds near the V gate a few months ago. This rapidly...
A 10-minute stroll through San Carlos
"I am an outside worker on Perryville. I casually watch this website, but this is the first time I have contributed. At around 9 am, I walked from Admin to the Medical office, this is what I observed. The Keefe workers in the store, serving customers, DID NOT HAVE...
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.