Corizon Case: Examining Inmate Healthcare Failures and Accountability

With the recent incident involving Corizon, the biggest inmate healthcare provider in the US (think Global Tel Link proportions) which serves 345,000 prisoners in 28 states we must be seriously think about the state of inmate healthcare and how the staff treats them. Most people are privy to what really happens inside prison walls. And with the said recent incident causing media hype and frenzy many are curious especially the families of incarcerated loved ones who have a medical condition prior to getting jailed. You can't blame these families as prisons aren't the friendliest of places and their sanatorium can cause some brows to rise. But on the flipside, do they genuinely care or just have acquired the wardens' often merciless judgment.
It Starts With the Justice System
It all begins at court, when the sentencing begins and often the jury will keep a blind eye towards medical condition and would base his decision even without understanding, researching or considering one's medical condition. Keen examples are those suffering with mental disability, like personality disorders, cognitive problems or psychosomatic illness that requires to be housed in a especial facility but instead is detained at a regular one. This then turns to a horrible sequence of events much like what happened with the Corizon case. The inmate is suffering from epilepsy and told the guards that he needs his medicine everyday or he'll have a seizure. The employees of Corizon at that time who may not be trained or briefed in handling such types of prisoners then disregarded the inmate's call for help, seeing it as a joke. When the seizures happened the guards mistaken it as resistance and handcuffed and pinned the inmate down to the cell where the prisoner was left for dead. When the Corizon employees blood coming out of his mouth, the prisoner was sent to the hospital not affiliated with them and was pronounced dead on arrival. And what's weird about this is that three similar cases happened earlier this year that al link to Corizon. Allegheny County Jail where the inmate was locked up decided to cut off their contract with Corizon even if there is still three years remaining.
The Debate: Whose Fault Is It?
If we analyze critically and see this in a chronological and larger perspective who is to blame? There are many to where can we pinpoint. But before we start darting fingers we should start in the microscopic of levels: awareness. The presiding prosecutors should be aware of such disabilities and to reconsider the sentences be given to them. The mental and physical capacity of the person in question isn't of normal levels and should be given the utmost of care. On the flipside though a recent research released by the Washington Post says that elderly inmates received a lot medical attention and are quick to address their needs with one patient saying they lengthen their lives. With this irony presented, a call for fair, just and equal distribution of medical attention should be given to prisoners regardless of status.