Prison Health Services, Incorporated, the greedy contractor which is supposed to provide essential healthcare for prisoners in Pennsylvania and other places, claims victims almost every day. The needless death of David Hallman at the infamous Frackville state prison in East-Central Pennsylvania is one recent example. Mr. Hallman died because he had to wait for over an hour while the staff scratched around looking for his boots! An insane rule values prison boots as being more important than a 51 year-old prisoner's life! In March 2007 I was the victim of a similar circumstance. Thankfully I haven't died, at least not yet. That's no thanks to the callous neglect of Prison Health Services. I was given an EKG. It showed that my heart was seriously sick. I was given 5 doses of nitroglycerin and an ambulance was summoned to take me to the hospital. The fear was that I might die at any moment. Sorry, I couldn't go to the hospital. I wasn't wearing prison boots! I'd collapsed in my cell without my boots on. How dumb of me! My health would have to wait for my boots. Imagine having your life hang in the balance while a lazy, fat "corrections officer" strolls around looking for your boots. When I came to prison 8 years ago, I needed a heart catheterization. In addition I had other serious medical concerns including prostate cancer. I didn't receive proper medical care then and I haven't received it since. Erosion and lesions in my esophagus and stomach have not been properly treated. Tumors in my colon have gotten worse from lack of proper care. My condition is similar to that of another prisoner who died recently. My position is not unlike that of another victim of Prison Health Services. Only a few months ago a prisoner was supposedly waiting for an operation to remove kidney stones. After he collapsed in the prison dining room and received belated CPR, he was finally diagnosed with cancer. After his death, a football-sized tumor was found in his stomach. Prison Health Services ("PHS") was quite satisfied. It didn't have to spend money for cancer surgery. Prison Health Services would sell its soul (if it had one) for the almighty dollar. Another prisoner, "Richard," was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on his liver. PHS told him that, by some supernatural marvel, the tumor was shrinking. I prodded him to distrust PHS and to review his records. He learned the harsh cold truth. Rather than the mythical shrinkage, the cancer had spread throughout his body. Even his bone marrow was infected. Thanks to the neglect, Richard must expect to die. Then there are the stories of "Mark" and "Alan." Both had hernias which went untreated for over three years. They were told that since their conditions were not "life-threatening," PHS would not pay for corrective surgery. They were only given elastic belts to hold in their intestines. Alan had a second crises. After taking drugs prescribed by PHS he bled internally. Not until he'd lost an estimated 5 pints of blood was he rushed to the hospital. Fortunately, he was wearing his boots. The hospital was the only thing that saved him. PHS surely wouldn't do it. Another victim in the long list is "Ronald." He suffers from kidney disease. The only treatment he's being given is a slightly modified prison diet. Nothing good will come of that. We've suggested that he keep his boots on. Next we have "Brian." He has a serious nervous system disorder. It resembles Parkinson's. He received no treatment except to be pacified with Tylenol. It's cheap! Any decent attorney could make a handsome living with suits over the Frackville prison healthcare. None of the PHS medical staff seems to know or care how to treat sick prisoners. And there's a Doctor Standish, the regional director of PHS. His interests don't seem to include a prisoner's wellbeing, only corporate costs. He has no qualms about fully disregarding the diagnoses and medical order of specialists and consultants if it will save PHS a few bucks. He has refused to allow doctors' orders for consultations with neurologists, urologists, oncologists and even physical therapy. On top of my other maladies, I suffer from whats been called multi-layer degenerative disease. My only "treatment" has been an ineffective high-calorie diet and a supplemental drink. I've lost over 33 pounds since the beginning of the year and I'm declining rapidly. If there are any concerned attorney's out there, please contact me. You might also arrange to telephone me through the superintendent's administrative assistant at 570-874-4516. Please hurry, men are dying and suffering from the neglect of Prison Health Services. Some of us are in our cell right now without our boots. Rebecca's Bargain Antiques Collectible Vintage Photos Fine Prints - Old Maps Sheet Music - Old Books Elegant Antiques and Collectibles "Snow doesn't bounce" Sandra Feigley, 2007 You are welcome to use or re-publish any of our material. Please give www.prisoners.com credit as the source. Return to the Prison Medical Treatment Menu Return to the Frackville Prison Menu Return to the Main Menu Use our site's Google Search Feature Send us Your Comments, Questions or Stories