A former Albion Prison inmate recently won a lawsuit alleging that he received "negligent care" for a broken ankle while a resident of the institution. The Pennsylvania state prison used a for-profit firm, Prison Health Services, Inc. (PHS), to provide health care. The jury decided that medical malpractice was the culprit.

The inmate apparently leapt from his cell bunk and damaged his ankle. The injury was then misdiagnosed as a sprain. For unspecified reasons, medical professionals waited five days to X-ray the damaged ankle. After reading the pictures, they transferred the inmate to Millcreek Hospital.

After inserting surgical pins and casting his ankle, doctors released the inmate to return to prison. The convict was then given crutches and pain medication. Prison officials apparently told the inmate they would give him "safe housing," as he was having great difficulty negotiating the huge stairs at the facility. Unfortunately, officials either "forgot" or decided not to provide stair-free housing. The inmate proceeded to fall down these stairs, injuring his back, knee and neck.

The former convict stated he never received an MRI, but was only offered epidural injections, which he refused, to manage his pain. Fast forward two years to the inmate's release from prison. He had his own MRI, which revealed multiple herniated disks and torn knee ligaments. The former convict's attorney argued that these untreated injuries will cause pain and suffering for the rest of the victim's life.

Jurors agreed and awarded the victim $312,000. The defendant's attorney argued that PHS actions did not cause any of the plaintiff's alleged injuries. In an interview shortly before the verdict, a former correctional officer seemed to support the decision by "blasting prison conditions."

Source: Huffington Post, "Derrick Jones, Former Albion Prison Inmate, Wins $312,000 Jury Verdict For Negligent Medical Care," David Lohr, Feb