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| Female inmates beg state lawmakers for better health care |
| By San Francisco Chronicle |
| Published: 10/23/2000 |
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p>With tales of medical neglect, shoddy treatment and sexual abuse, inmates from two of California's largest women's prisons pleaded recently with state lawmakers for an overhaul of the Department of Corrections health care system. In a highly unusual hearing within the walls of Valley State Prison for Women, state Sen. Richard Polanco, D-Los Angeles, presided over a seven-hour session that included graphic and disturbing testimony from a dozen women. They painted a picture of a prison medical system that often ignored their efforts to get health care, or provided substandard care when they received it. Joining the senators were Assemblyman Carl Washington, D-Paramount, and Dr. Louis Vismara, cardiologist and consultant to Senate President ProTem John Burton, D- San Francisco. Charisse Shumate, who is serving 15 years to life for murder and is the lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit against the Department of Corrections, told the panel she lost sight in one eye because of delays in treatment for a sickle-cell anemia-related disorder. Her detached retina was treated by surgeons five days after she reported the problem -- too late, she said, to save her vision. The hearing comes as the DOC attempts to track down and retest female inmates who had previous blood work or Pap smears performed by B.C.L. Clinical Labs. The laboratory was shut down four years ago after state investigators found evidence it had been faking results on test for AIDS, hepatitis, cancer and other serious diseases. The most explosive testimony was delivered by inmate Debra Jones, who said she was taking the opportunity afforded by the rare public forum to warn lawmakers of widespread sexual abuse at the state women's prisons, alleging that inmates are victimized by their officers. Jones said that in 1989, she was raped by a prison staffer who watched over the women during church services. After the hearing, Department of Corrections ombudsman Lucy Armendariz said Jones' allegations already have been investigated and that her assailant was prosecuted. Dr. Susann Steinberg, deputy director of the health care services division, defended her department. She indicated that many of the women testifying yesterday were not telling the truth. Dr. Corey Weinstein, a San Francisco-based consultant to prison rights groups, told lawmakers they should put an end to a system that trains prison officers as health care workers. |
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