Subject: Medical neglect of
prisoner at Shattuck
Dear Senator Barrios and
Representative Coakley-Rivera:
I was informed on Saturday of
disturbing circumstances of Mass. Prisoner, Anthony Garafolo, who was
transferred to the Shattuck Hospital on Thursday. Mr. Garafolo is post
surgical from UMass Medical where he received excellent care for the
gaping bedsore, caused by prior DoC neglect, referenced below. I was
informed that the flap sewn over the hole left by the bedsore has
split open and is bleeding and that Mr. Garafolo, a paraplegic, is
experiencing pain and is not receiving proper medical care.
I am very concerned that the treatment
of Mr. Garafolo may not be in accordance with his civil and human
rights. Increasingly media reports and research articles are exposing
cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in U.S. jails and prisons,
including in Massachusetts. Medical neglect and abuse appears to be a
factor in some of the recent deaths in state and county facilities.
As Chairs of the Joint Public
Safety/Homeland Security Committees I am writing to ask that you
ensure that Mr. Garafolo's rights are not being violated and that he
is given the medical care he requires.
Sincerely,
Andrea Hornbein
20 Rugg Road
Boston, MA 02134
(617) 372-5760 |
TM
Last Updated on
Wednesday July 25, 2007.