Arizona correctional officials are investigating numerous complaints by prisoners who claim that they are consistently denied medical care for weeks or months – even for severe, life-threatening conditions.
“We’re out of compliance with our own policies. The lack of treatment represents an escalating danger to the community, the staff and the inmates,” said former deputy medical director for psychiatry Michael Breslow.
The Prison Law Office, a legal-advocacy group for prisoners, acquired Breslow’s statement through a Freedom of Information Act request.
Prisoners who have lost sight, had body parts amputated or been severely disfigured allege proper medical care could have prevented unnecessary suffering.
Based on those allegations, the legal group has accused the state of persistently and systemically denying medical and mental-health care to prisoners, violating state and federal laws. The legal group, also claims that lack of care may add to a prison suicide rate in Arizona more than double the national average, with 14 reported suicides in fiscal year 2010.
Corrections officials say they have found no evidence of systemic problems. However, they say that pending plans to privatize prison health care have made it harder to fill medical staff vacancies.
Rule changes two years ago that cut payments to outside contractors further stymied access to care, assert corrections officials.
The Prison Law Office noted that in 2009 the Arizona State Prison Complex-Eyman in Florence had only one half-time psychiatrist for more than 1,000 patients who were on mental-health medications.
Earlier this year, mental health staff did not see prisoners at the Arizona State Prison Complex-Perryville for six months or more, according to the legal group.
