Roughly sixteen years ago, Remedy Project member Samuel Sanchez staggered into USP McCreary’s medical office, bracing himself against the extreme, unbearable pain he felt within his chest. After awaiting his turn in a long line of pain-riddled prisoners, Sanchez was met with a cursory examination that resulted in his first misdiagnosis - acid reflux. The heedless doctor rushed Sanchez out the door, suggesting he simply change his diet to avoid meat and spicy foods. Bewildered, Sanchez trudged back to his cell. For the next six months, he was given bologna sandwiches four times a week. His chest pain grew and grew, to the point where he was unable to conduct basic day-to-day functions. One day, after weeks of indescribable pain, Sanchez’s condition grew so severe that he was sent to the hospital. There, he was given a new diagnosis - a hiatial hernia. This gruesome, agonizing condition occurs when one’s upper stomach area pushes through the diaphragm and into the chest cavity.
Sanchez’s proper, long-awaited diagnosis gave him some sense of relief. Perhaps now he would receive the medical attention he truly needed and would be relieved of his constant discomfort. This, however, was not the case. The medical staff at USP McCreary, aware of Sanchez’s recent diagnosis, continued to neglect his increasingly intense state. Denying him surgery, as well as withholding his hernia medication, Omeprazole, the staff claimed that his treatment would simply “cost the BOP too much money”.
Years and years passed by, and Sanchez continued to struggle with his hernia pain. He filed request after request, urging the medical staff to relieve him of his discomfort - only to be told that his operation would be considered cosmetic. Day after day he sat in his cell, writing to whomever he could, longing for someone to understand what he was being put through. McCreary staff rejected his requests and even confiscated his papers after several unjust cell shakedowns. The pain continued to intensify as time went on - with each breath he took he felt a sharp, burning stab to his chest with a dull ache that constantly gnawed at him. Today, nearly sixteen years later, this pain continues to grow.
“The medical staff is culpable for placing me in sufficiently serious harm, whereby I’ve continued to suffer unnecessary and chronic chest pain.”
Disregarding Sanchez’s medical needs is not an isolated event at USP McCreary - for several years they have been culpable of inhumane practices and prisoner neglect. Earlier this year, one man’s reflection on his time at the facility revealed that mass punishment, the infamous “bologna diet”, constant assaults, and minimal access to general care are just a few common practices at this horror-filled facility. Sanchez’s story is also not the only one of neglected hernias in prisons - remedy project member Steven Tracy Tyler faced a similar situation in which his four-year intestinal hernia grew so severe that it was on the verge of bursting. Only when it reached this stage, one so severe and in dire need of treatment, did the medical staff finally take him to a hospital for surgery.
We must ensure that Samuel Sanchez's condition does not reach a critical point where he could suffer life-altering health damage. Sixteen years with no aid or relief is far too long for any human to endure such a level of torment. Neglecting any human, incarcerated or not, of their basic rights to healthcare is a violation of their human rights. We demand that the staff at USP McCreary be disciplined for their negligence and that Mr. Sanchez receive the medical care he deserves.
Roughly sixteen years ago, Remedy Project member Samuel Sanchez staggered into USP McCreary’s medical office, bracing himself against the extreme, unbearable pain he felt within his chest. After awaiting his turn in a long line of pain-riddled prisoners, Sanchez was met with a cursory examination that resulted in his first misdiagnosis - acid reflux. The heedless doctor rushed Sanchez out the door, suggesting he simply change his diet to avoid meat and spicy foods. Bewildered, Sanchez trudged back to his cell. For the next six months, he was given bologna sandwiches four times a week. His chest pain grew and grew, to the point where he was unable to conduct basic day-to-day functions. One day, after weeks of indescribable pain, Sanchez’s condition grew so severe that he was sent to the hospital. There, he was given a new diagnosis - a hiatial hernia. This gruesome, agonizing condition occurs when one’s upper stomach area pushes through the diaphragm and into the chest cavity.
Sanchez’s proper, long-awaited diagnosis gave him some sense of relief. Perhaps now he would receive the medical attention he truly needed and would be relieved of his constant discomfort. This, however, was not the case. The medical staff at USP McCreary, aware of Sanchez’s recent diagnosis, continued to neglect his increasingly intense state. Denying him surgery, as well as withholding his hernia medication, Omeprazole, the staff claimed that his treatment would simply “cost the BOP too much money”.
Years and years passed by, and Sanchez continued to struggle with his hernia pain. He filed request after request, urging the medical staff to relieve him of his discomfort - only to be told that his operation would be considered cosmetic. Day after day he sat in his cell, writing to whomever he could, longing for someone to understand what he was being put through. McCreary staff rejected his requests and even confiscated his papers after several unjust cell shakedowns. The pain continued to intensify as time went on - with each breath he took he felt a sharp, burning stab to his chest with a dull ache that constantly gnawed at him. Today, nearly sixteen years later, this pain continues to grow.
“The medical staff is culpable for placing me in sufficiently serious harm, whereby I’ve continued to suffer unnecessary and chronic chest pain.”
Disregarding Sanchez’s medical needs is not an isolated event at USP McCreary - for several years they have been culpable of inhumane practices and prisoner neglect. Earlier this year, one man’s reflection on his time at the facility revealed that mass punishment, the infamous “bologna diet”, constant assaults, and minimal access to general care are just a few common practices at this horror-filled facility. Sanchez’s story is also not the only one of neglected hernias in prisons - remedy project member Steven Tracy Tyler faced a similar situation in which his four-year intestinal hernia grew so severe that it was on the verge of bursting. Only when it reached this stage, one so severe and in dire need of treatment, did the medical staff finally take him to a hospital for surgery.
We must ensure that Samuel Sanchez's condition does not reach a critical point where he could suffer life-altering health damage. Sixteen years with no aid or relief is far too long for any human to endure such a level of torment. Neglecting any human, incarcerated or not, of their basic rights to healthcare is a violation of their human rights. We demand that the staff at USP McCreary be disciplined for their negligence and that Mr. Sanchez receive the medical care he deserves.
