Lockup has no medical staff at night, nurse says

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Miami Herald

Posted on Tuesday, 07.19.11
Lockup has no medical staff at night, nurse says

The state’s juvenile justice chief said budget constraints were not a factor in last week’s death at a juvenile jail. But a nurse said the facility has no medical staffing at night.

By Carol Marbin Miller
[e-mail]

After Omar Paisley died of a burst appendix in a Miami-Dade juvenile lockup eight years ago, juvenile justice administrators announced sweeping reforms, including on-site medical care around the clock at the Miami facility.

When Eric Perez died Sunday, July10 at the Palm Beach County juvenile jail, there were no doctors or nurses on duty, according to the nurse jailers say they tried in vain to reach.

“Nobody works there at night,” Diana Heras said of lockup medical staff. “There is no state funding for night nurses for any night of the week. They do not have a nurse who works at that ... facility on the night shift, and they do not work weekends.”

Department of Juvenile Justice Secretary Wansley Walters, at the helm for just half a year when 18-year-old Eric perished at the West Palm Beach lockup, said Florida’s historic budget woes — which prompted lawmakers to trim tens of millions in juvenile justice spending this year — are not to blame for his death last week.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/07/19/2321768/lockup-has-no-medical-staff-at.html

[aquart]

1. Let me guess: taxes are low?

[awoke_in_2003]

2. we need more privatization...

:sarcasm:

[ChrisBorg]

3. Anyone who thought otherwise is ill informed.

[indurancevile]

4. It's paid for with tax dollars, but the public can't know who the contractor is? Bullshit.

Medical care at the lockup is overseen by a private entity under contract with the state, but neither Walters nor Heras would name the healthcare provider Tuesday.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/07/19/2321768/lockup-has-no-medical-staff-at.html#ixzz1ScVXEosU

[Speck Tater]

5. Just like my house. No medical staff on duty here either. nt

[Judi Lynn]

6. The people inside can't call an ambulance, unlike you in your house.

In Miami, too many of these young people have died alone.