[A] prisoner who died in Vermont’s only women’s correctional facility this year did not receive adequate medical treatment, according to an independent investigation by Disability Rights Vermont.
The report, released this week, found that Annette Douglas was not placed in the infirmary for care and never saw a physician while at Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility in South Burlington, despite significant chronic health needs.
“This is an individual that should have been in a medical treatment instead of being held in a room in corrections with very little attention paid to her needs,” Ed Paquin, executive director of Disability Rights Vermont, said Thursday.
Douglas, 43, died Jan. 9 at the University of Vermont Medical Center of cardiac arrest, two days after she was found unresponsive in her cell. She entered prison on Dec. 29 to serve a 17-day sentence for twice missing work crew orientation.
Douglas was the first of four people to die in the custody of the Department of Corrections this year.
Previous reports, including an investigation by the Defender General’s Office, linked Douglas’ death to her refusal of treatment for her conditions, which included diabetes.
According to medical, mental health and other records obtained by Disability Rights Vermont, Douglas did at times refuse diabetic treatment, but at other times accepted it.
On Jan. 6, the day before Douglas was found unresponsive in her cell, a nurse who was treating Douglas in her cell said that Douglas told her, “I need to just be in the infirmary.”
The report raises concerns that Douglas’ refusal of treatment in some instances led to complacency among staff.
“It appears to us that there was a lot of blaming of the victim here and a lot of perception that she was malingering or trying to get away with something,” A.J. Ruben, of Disability Rights Vermont said Thursday. “And that has a deadly consequence.”
The review also notes that Douglas indicated suicidal feelings to medical staff, but that mental health providers did not have any documentation about that, nor did medical staff put together a treatment plan.
“The overall disregard shown by staff and lack of even basic medical care for Ms. Douglas while she was in obvious medical distress is alarming,” the report states.
The report includes 10 recommendations for responding to Douglas’ death, including taking disciplinary action for correctional staff who didn’t follow procedures and dismissing nursing staff who “did not perform to the level of their licensure in providing care to Ms. Douglas, ultimately contributing to her death.”
Disability Rights Vermont also suggests taking steps on a systemic level within the DOC. That could include training staff in sensitivity and etiquette, with the goal of promoting an atmosphere of compassion.
Seth Lipschutz, who heads the prisoners’ rights division of the Defender General’s Office, said Thursday that he saw many similarities between the conclusions of the report put out by his office and the report by Disability Rights Vermont.
“The substance was very similar, the tone was somewhat different,” Lipschutz said.
Lipschutz said the defender general recognized the right of an individual to refuse treatment, however, the office’s report also suggested that earlier medical treatment may have led to a different outcome.
“We hope we learn something every time, you know, that sort event happens,” Lipschutz said.
Lisa Menard, incoming DOC commissioner, said the department will take the recommendations in the report “very seriously.”
Menard said the department is confident in the staffing levels for the medical services in Vermont’s prisons, and noted that the department thoroughly reviews service systems each time there is an inmate death.
Last month, Kristine Brennan, 49, died while lodged at Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility while awaiting arraignment after being arrested for retail theft.
Disability Rights Vermont is an independent nonprofit with a federal mandate to investigate allegations of abuse or neglect that involve people with disabilities.
