A 57-year-old inmate at a Santa Barbara county jail died due to medical negligence. Staff attributed her severe symptoms to opioid withdrawal rather than seeking emergency care. The inmate, referred to as CF, was subjected to mistreatment, leading to a diagnosis error that caused a perforated stomach. Despite her visible distress, medical personnel failed to respond adequately, ignoring her requests for hospital transfer. An investigation revealed she had a high chance of survival if treated promptly. The health provider, Wellpath, faced scrutiny over its handling of inmate healthcare, aligning with broader concerns regarding private equity-backed prison health services.
Medical staff at Santa Barbara county jail misdiagnosed a 57-year-old inmate's severe condition, mistaking symptoms of a perforated stomach for opioid withdrawal, leading to her death.
The grand jury established that a lack of proper response to a medical emergency contributed to the inmate's death, despite significant signs of distress and a high chance of survival.
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