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| Florida Jail Inmate Overdosed on Prescription Drug |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 08/18/2003 |
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A Leon County (Fla.) inmate died from a massive overdose of a prescription drug - likely administered by the jail's infirmary - an autopsy shows. Ruth Hubbs, 39, was found dead in her cell May 16. She is one of three people to die in the Leon County jail since March. A medical examination found more than 20 times the lethal amount of the anti-depressant doxepin in her system. 'I believe that whatever she had, she received while she was in our care and custody,' Capt. Mike Wood said August 5. The private health care company that runs the infirmary has been under scrutiny since the deaths. Prison Health Services Inc., based in Brentwood, Tenn., has more than 1,000 lawsuits pending against it. It did not immediately return a call Wednesday seeking comment. PHS provides medical, dental, pharmacy and mental health care at 24 county jails in Florida and one state prison. In all, the company cares for about 13,000 inmates in Florida and 200,000 around the country. The state of Maine fired PHS as the provider for medical care in its prison system last year after an audit showed prisoners were receiving inadequate care. Leon County pays PHS $2.6 million a year to operate the medical clinic at the jail and additional money for HIV medication and outside costs such as hospitalization and specialists. |
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