FCI Schuylkill, and more specifically health administrator R. Rishel and health services administrative assistant M. Fahringer is guilty of denying James Garlick his right to medical treatment. James Garlick has suffered from persistent chest problems for two years. His initial CAT scan highlighted life-threatening issues which have still not been addressed. The left side of his chest is always swollen, he has trouble breathing, and there is an immense pressure under his ribs, close to his heart. To make matters worse, Mr. Garlick suffers from asthma and was only given an inhaler after insistent requests.
When seeking assistance from Mr. Rishel about his health issues, Mr. Garlick is disregarded and told to come see him during mainline - a very busy time. Naturally, Mr. Garlick fears others hearing about his personal health issues, and thus never gets Mr. Rishel’s assistance. Mr. Garlick’s health issues have been tossed aside and he is being blatantly ignored.
On July 8, 2024, Mr. Garlick went to the health services clinic. After waiting for 30 minutes, he was kicked out by M. Fahringer, a health services administrative assistant, after he asked Mr. Fahringer to look at his records from 2022 rather than 2023. The 2022 records contained pertinent and more detailed information about his health issues. This angered Mr. Fahringer, insisting that Mr. Garlick not, “tell him how to do his job,” and then proceeded to kick him out of the clinic. Mr. Fahringer also refused to answer Mr. Garlick’s question about seeing a medical provider regarding his initial CAT scan, further ignoring Mr. Garlick’s health concerns.
Mr. Garlick made it very clear that he “feared writing a complaint” about his medical neglect because of FCI Schuylkill’s reputation of retaliating against those who write any form of complaint. Warden Beth Rickard threatens to send those filing complaints to a worse facility. However, Mr. Garlick is so worried by his pain and suffering that he still decided to seek remedy. He writes, “despite the retaliation I could, and probably will face, I know I must continue to advocate for myself and my health - because if I don’t then my health and chance at living will be gone - and staff will have gotten their wish of making me become forgotten.”
The Remedy Project filed a BP-8, an informal complaint form, on behalf of Mr. Garlick in July. The administrative remedy was formally rejected, but he was taken to the doctor, given a brief examination, and given an asthma pump. Mr. Garlick wrote “being as I have an inhaler and seen the physician, I kinda think they covered their tracks without responding to the BP-8.” This is exactly what happened. Because of our help, the staff at FCI Schuylkill did the bare minimum to treat Mr. Garlick. However, James, and every incarcerated person, deserve more than the bare minimum. In his exam, the doctor did not administer any new tests and continued to belittle the severity of his health issues, telling him he wouldn’t receive any more care since his other conditions were not “life-threatening”. This is why we are organizing an action to put additional pressure on FCI Schuylkill to address Mr. Garlick’s needs.
Mr. Garlick’s neglect and mistreatment is unfortunately the story of many. We must fight for better! Help Mr. Garlick get medical attention from a provider who will take his issues seriously. ACT NOW!
FCI Schuylkill, and more specifically health administrator R. Rishel and health services administrative assistant M. Fahringer is guilty of denying James Garlick his right to medical treatment. James Garlick has suffered from persistent chest problems for two years. His initial CAT scan highlighted life-threatening issues which have still not been addressed. The left side of his chest is always swollen, he has trouble breathing, and there is an immense pressure under his ribs, close to his heart. To make matters worse, Mr. Garlick suffers from asthma and was only given an inhaler after insistent requests.
When seeking assistance from Mr. Rishel about his health issues, Mr. Garlick is disregarded and told to come see him during mainline - a very busy time. Naturally, Mr. Garlick fears others hearing about his personal health issues, and thus never gets Mr. Rishel’s assistance. Mr. Garlick’s health issues have been tossed aside and he is being blatantly ignored.
On July 8, 2024, Mr. Garlick went to the health services clinic. After waiting for 30 minutes, he was kicked out by M. Fahringer, a health services administrative assistant, after he asked Mr. Fahringer to look at his records from 2022 rather than 2023. The 2022 records contained pertinent and more detailed information about his health issues. This angered Mr. Fahringer, insisting that Mr. Garlick not, “tell him how to do his job,” and then proceeded to kick him out of the clinic. Mr. Fahringer also refused to answer Mr. Garlick’s question about seeing a medical provider regarding his initial CAT scan, further ignoring Mr. Garlick’s health concerns.
Mr. Garlick made it very clear that he “feared writing a complaint” about his medical neglect because of FCI Schuylkill’s reputation of retaliating against those who write any form of complaint. Warden Beth Rickard threatens to send those filing complaints to a worse facility. However, Mr. Garlick is so worried by his pain and suffering that he still decided to seek remedy. He writes, “despite the retaliation I could, and probably will face, I know I must continue to advocate for myself and my health - because if I don’t then my health and chance at living will be gone - and staff will have gotten their wish of making me become forgotten.”
The Remedy Project filed a BP-8, an informal complaint form, on behalf of Mr. Garlick in July. The administrative remedy was formally rejected, but he was taken to the doctor, given a brief examination, and given an asthma pump. Mr. Garlick wrote “being as I have an inhaler and seen the physician, I kinda think they covered their tracks without responding to the BP-8.” This is exactly what happened. Because of our help, the staff at FCI Schuylkill did the bare minimum to treat Mr. Garlick. However, James, and every incarcerated person, deserve more than the bare minimum. In his exam, the doctor did not administer any new tests and continued to belittle the severity of his health issues, telling him he wouldn’t receive any more care since his other conditions were not “life-threatening”. This is why we are organizing an action to put additional pressure on FCI Schuylkill to address Mr. Garlick’s needs.
Mr. Garlick’s neglect and mistreatment is unfortunately the story of many. We must fight for better! Help Mr. Garlick get medical attention from a provider who will take his issues seriously. ACT NOW!
