In 2018, Kenneth Kocher, a member of the Remedy Project, arrived at a Texas hospital in distress, suffering from severe chest pain. His medical visit raised serious concerns among the attending doctors, yet the hospital staff failed to document or address the potentially life-threatening conditions he faced. Nearly seven years later, Mr. Kocher remains trapped in a relentless battle with his health, accompanied by a pattern of medical neglect at FCI Butner that continues to jeopardize his life.
After his initial hospital visit, Mr. Kocher endured two years of terrifying episodes of syncope (loss of consciousness) and excruciating chest pain—conditions that went untreated. Each day was a struggle against an invisible enemy, as he lived in constant fear of when the next attack would strike, never knowing if he would wake up from it. Despite his pleas for help, his suffering was met with silence, leaving him alone with his distress. In 2020, a single visit with a physician offered a brief glimmer of hope, as he was finally able to receive attention for his worsening heart and lung conditions. Yet, even then, discrepancies between verbal diagnoses and his official medical records persisted, leaving him trapped in his unaddressed discomfort.
The next two years passed in a haze of pain and uncertainty. Mr. Kocher once again requested access to his medical records, which he was denied until three long months had passed. Even after receiving these records, there was no follow-up, no medical provider to explain his condition, and no specialists consulted. During this time, the staff at FCI Butner withdrew his hypertension medication, worsening his condition and leading to clear and noticeable unsteadiness and pain. Still, no action was taken to address his pressing conditions.
“Sometimes I wonder if I’m even gonna live long enough to see my release.”
In 2024, Kocher experienced another devastating syncope attack– the culmination of years of neglect and untreated medical issues. He was rushed to the hospital, where Dr. Bryd and his team of cardiologists issued clear and urgent recommendations: Mr. Kocher should be discharged with a LifeVest to monitor his heart rhythms, followed by an implantable loop recorder (ILR) to further track any abnormalities. These recommendations, designed to save his life, were ignored by FCI Butner’s staff physician, Dr. Patrick Craft. Not only did Dr. Craft remove the LifeVest, but he also failed to provide the life-saving ILR device and even threatened Mr. Kocher with harm. By disregarding the medical advice of specialists, Dr. Craft has left Mr. Kocher at grave risk, a life hanging in the balance because of systemic medical neglect.
“Dr. Patrick Craft has earned himself the nickname Dr. Death here among the inmates and guards alike.”
Kocher’s suffering doesn’t end with his syncope condition. He also faces severe, untreated pulmonary and urological concerns—issues that have gone ignored by FCI Butner staff. These are not isolated failings; they represent a systemic disregard for Mr. Kocher’s health and basic human rights. The Federal Bureau of Prisons Handbook clearly outlines the responsibilities of prison officials to provide medical care, yet FCI Butner has violated these mandates at every turn. These violations go beyond medical malpractice—they represent a breach of Mr. Kocher’s 8th Amendment rights, which protect all Americans from cruel and unusual punishment.
Mr. Kocher’s suffering is not just an individual tragedy—it is a call to action. No one, regardless of their circumstances, should be subjected to such relentless neglect and pain. We demand that Mr. Kocher receive the implantable loop recorder recommended by his doctors and be scheduled for necessary cardiology follow-ups. We insist that he be given timely appointments with pulmonology and urology specialists before his conditions worsen further. Most urgently, we demand that Mr. Kocher be placed under the care of a physician other than Dr. Craft, who has proven time and again that he cannot be trusted with Mr. Kocher’s well-being.
The cruel and unrelenting neglect that Mr. Kocher has endured must be addressed. The staff at FCI Butner, including Dr. Patrick Craft, must be held accountable for their negligence and violation of Mr. Kocher’s rights. Suffering from even one medical condition in a U.S. prison is painful enough, and Mr. Kocher faces the discomfort of fighting several possible diagnoses. No one, regardless of their circumstances, deserves to endure such pain, discomfort, and fear accompanied by complete and ruthless neglect. Kenneth Kocher deserves his right to treatment and medical attention.
In 2018, Kenneth Kocher, a member of the Remedy Project, arrived at a Texas hospital in distress, suffering from severe chest pain. His medical visit raised serious concerns among the attending doctors, yet the hospital staff failed to document or address the potentially life-threatening conditions he faced. Nearly seven years later, Mr. Kocher remains trapped in a relentless battle with his health, accompanied by a pattern of medical neglect at FCI Butner that continues to jeopardize his life.
After his initial hospital visit, Mr. Kocher endured two years of terrifying episodes of syncope (loss of consciousness) and excruciating chest pain—conditions that went untreated. Each day was a struggle against an invisible enemy, as he lived in constant fear of when the next attack would strike, never knowing if he would wake up from it. Despite his pleas for help, his suffering was met with silence, leaving him alone with his distress. In 2020, a single visit with a physician offered a brief glimmer of hope, as he was finally able to receive attention for his worsening heart and lung conditions. Yet, even then, discrepancies between verbal diagnoses and his official medical records persisted, leaving him trapped in his unaddressed discomfort.
The next two years passed in a haze of pain and uncertainty. Mr. Kocher once again requested access to his medical records, which he was denied until three long months had passed. Even after receiving these records, there was no follow-up, no medical provider to explain his condition, and no specialists consulted. During this time, the staff at FCI Butner withdrew his hypertension medication, worsening his condition and leading to clear and noticeable unsteadiness and pain. Still, no action was taken to address his pressing conditions.
“Sometimes I wonder if I’m even gonna live long enough to see my release.”
In 2024, Kocher experienced another devastating syncope attack– the culmination of years of neglect and untreated medical issues. He was rushed to the hospital, where Dr. Bryd and his team of cardiologists issued clear and urgent recommendations: Mr. Kocher should be discharged with a LifeVest to monitor his heart rhythms, followed by an implantable loop recorder (ILR) to further track any abnormalities. These recommendations, designed to save his life, were ignored by FCI Butner’s staff physician, Dr. Patrick Craft. Not only did Dr. Craft remove the LifeVest, but he also failed to provide the life-saving ILR device and even threatened Mr. Kocher with harm. By disregarding the medical advice of specialists, Dr. Craft has left Mr. Kocher at grave risk, a life hanging in the balance because of systemic medical neglect.
“Dr. Patrick Craft has earned himself the nickname Dr. Death here among the inmates and guards alike.”
Kocher’s suffering doesn’t end with his syncope condition. He also faces severe, untreated pulmonary and urological concerns—issues that have gone ignored by FCI Butner staff. These are not isolated failings; they represent a systemic disregard for Mr. Kocher’s health and basic human rights. The Federal Bureau of Prisons Handbook clearly outlines the responsibilities of prison officials to provide medical care, yet FCI Butner has violated these mandates at every turn. These violations go beyond medical malpractice—they represent a breach of Mr. Kocher’s 8th Amendment rights, which protect all Americans from cruel and unusual punishment.
Mr. Kocher’s suffering is not just an individual tragedy—it is a call to action. No one, regardless of their circumstances, should be subjected to such relentless neglect and pain. We demand that Mr. Kocher receive the implantable loop recorder recommended by his doctors and be scheduled for necessary cardiology follow-ups. We insist that he be given timely appointments with pulmonology and urology specialists before his conditions worsen further. Most urgently, we demand that Mr. Kocher be placed under the care of a physician other than Dr. Craft, who has proven time and again that he cannot be trusted with Mr. Kocher’s well-being.
The cruel and unrelenting neglect that Mr. Kocher has endured must be addressed. The staff at FCI Butner, including Dr. Patrick Craft, must be held accountable for their negligence and violation of Mr. Kocher’s rights. Suffering from even one medical condition in a U.S. prison is painful enough, and Mr. Kocher faces the discomfort of fighting several possible diagnoses. No one, regardless of their circumstances, deserves to endure such pain, discomfort, and fear accompanied by complete and ruthless neglect. Kenneth Kocher deserves his right to treatment and medical attention.
