HIV Inmate Deprived of Care, Suit Says: ACLU Says Case Reflects Pattern of Failure at City Jails

An HIV-positive inmate received substandard care at a St. Louis jail, including 17 days without his medication, charges a suit filed on his behalf by the American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri.

The man, known in court documents as John Doe, is in his late 40s. He was arrested in March 2010 and released this month. Prison officials knew of his condition, and the physician who had treated him successfully before incarceration faxed to the jail details about his medication regimen, the suit says.

The suit named as defendants the city, vendor Correctional Medical Services, jail superintendent Eugene Stubblefield, and Drs. Brenda Mallard and Susan Singer of CMS. The current case is indicative of a pattern of poor care at St. Louis' Justice Center downtown and the Medium Security Institution on Hall Street, the suit says.

"It's inexcusable, and it's serious," ACLU Legal Director Tony Rothert said.

A spokesperson for the city rejected the premise of the suit. "Contrary to the claims of the ACLU, the records of the inmate in question reflect that he received adequate medical care consistent with his constitutional rights," Deputy City Counselor Nancy Kistler said.

In a 2009 report, the ACLU charged the jails with inmate abuse, providing inadequate medical attention, falsification of reports, and unsanitary conditions.

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.


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