logo
Parents of man who died in Colorado jail say nurses, deputies ignored his pleas for 15 hours

Parents of man who died in Colorado jail say nurses, deputies ignored his pleas for 15 hours

Yahoo2 days ago
DENVER (AP) — The parents of a man who died alone in a Colorado jail cell after an ulcer burned a hole in his digestive tract and left him in what they said was excruciating pain for about 15 hours filed a federal lawsuit Monday, accusing the jail's nurses and sheriff's deputes of ignoring his cries for help.
The lawsuit blames them, local government officials and Southern Health Partners for failing to stop the death of Daniel Foard in 2023 by taking him to the hospital. Foard, 32, was a cook at a brewpub and user of fentanyl who was arrested for failing to appear in court. After being segregated and monitored for withdrawal from the synthetic opioid, he began vomiting and complained of stomach pain after being put in a regular jail cell, it said.
The lawsuit alleges Southern Health Partners — the Tennessee-based company they contracted with to provide health care at the La Plata County jail — has tried to maximize its profits at the jail by only having one nurse on duty at a time, leaving it to medically untrained deputies to monitor sick inmates. The company holds hundred of contracts at jails around the country and the lawsuit alleges that is has been involved in lawsuits related to the deaths of at least five other jail inmates nationally.
The company's lawyer, Shira Crittendon, said she had not seen the lawsuit and declined to comment on it.
The sheriff's office referred questions about the the lawsuit to a county spokesperson. In a statement, the county said it had not analyzed the allegations in the lawsuit and does not comment publicly on active litigation.
Autopsy found Foard died because of an ulcer
Foard was found dead in the jail on Aug. 17, 2023, six days after he was arrested.
An autopsy found Foard died as a result of a hole created by an ulcer in his small intestine, which caused inflammation of the tissue lining his abdomen. Such ulcers can let food and digestive juices leak out of the body's digestive tract.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, was found in Foard's blood but the autopsy report did not name that as a cause of his death. Dr. Michael Arnall ruled Foard's death was due to natural causes.
On Aug. 15, 2023, even though Foard had collapsed several times and had trouble standing, he was moved out of an area where he could be more easily observed for problems with his withdrawal and put into a regular jail cell, staggering as we went, the lawsuit said. The day nurse ignored a deputy's concern that he was very unstable, according to the lawsuit brought by lawyers Dan Weiss, Anna Holland Edwards, John Holland and Erica Grossman.
After a deputy delivering breakfast on Aug. 16, 2023 saw that Foard repeatedly fell while trying to get his tray, the jail's day nurse came to check on him, it said. She recorded that Foard reported he had sharp, shooting pain that was a '10' on a scale of one to 10, but she did not call for a doctor or send him to the hospital, it said.
The nurse moved Foard to an empty cell where he could be monitored but didn't tell deputies what he was being monitored for and didn't order any follow up care or check on him, it said. He vomited all day and was moved to another cell and then a third because they had all become so messy with vomit, it said. Surveillance video showed him crawling to the final cell, where it said he continuously called out for help and yelled that he needed to go to a hospital, saying he was vomiting blood. The lawsuit claims that no one responded to his pleas but one deputy could be heard on surveillance video telling him to 'try to hit that drain' with his vomit to keep the cell from becoming dirty.
Another nurse, working the evening shift, only walked by his cell and glanced inside, but did not assess him or provide care as he was pleading for help, the lawsuit said. When she did enter his cell around 10 p.m., Foard was dead, it said. She told state investigators that vomiting was normal for people withdrawing from fentanyl.
State authorities investigated Foard's death
The day shift nurse later told a state investigator that it was not unusual that Foard would not have had his vital signs checked for 12 hours because of the number of inmates the jail's nurses need to provide care, according to a report from an investigation by the Colorado Bureau of Investigations. She also said she didn't think there was anything different she could have done based on Foard's symptoms.
The bureau's findings were forwarded to the 6th District Attorney's Office, which would decide whether any criminal charges were warranted in connection with Foard's death. It's not known whether the office decided to pursue any charges. A telephone message and email sent to District Attorney Sean Murray were not immediately returned.
In a statement, Jim Foard and Susan Gizinski said they want everyone to know about their son's ordeal both to hold those they say are responsible for his death accountable and to change how inmates are treated at the jail.
'Just basic training in having compassion for others would be a great start. But adding more staff is critical too,' they said.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

2 Reasons Why You Don't Need To ‘Fix' Your Libido, By A Psychologist
2 Reasons Why You Don't Need To ‘Fix' Your Libido, By A Psychologist

Forbes

time9 minutes ago

  • Forbes

2 Reasons Why You Don't Need To ‘Fix' Your Libido, By A Psychologist

Your libido will naturally fluctuate, and it's not something you always need to 'fix' just to keep ... More your relationship going. Many long-term couples ask themselves if they're having enough sex, and wonder if there's a 'normal' amount they should be aiming for. But the truth is, there's no right answer to this question. For some, once a week feels right; for others, a couple times a month might even be enough. However, when sex disappears entirely from a marriage, it can leave the relationship vulnerable to feelings of emotional distance or even inadequacy. A 2014 study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior found that having more frequent sex is associated with higher sexual satisfaction. However, frequency didn't directly affect overall relationship satisfaction, which was impacted more by how satisfied couples felt sexually. The researchers also found that sexual satisfaction and frequency of sex declined over time for almost all couples who participated. So, it's not entirely uncommon for your sexual life to hit a slump every once in a while. A 2017 study published in the Transactional Analysis Journal builds on this finding by showing that a fulfilling sex life in long-term relationships has less to do with performance or frequency, and more to do with emotional safety and mutual respect. This highlights how your libido isn't solely responsible for keeping a relationship alive. Based on the 2017 study, here are two signs that you're placing too much stock in libido in your relationship. 1. You Stress Over Mismatched Libidos Many people assume that long-term partners should naturally have matching libidos. But in reality, perfectly synced sex drives are rare. It's normal to have fluctuations in your libido. These could stem from stress, life distractions, the anxiety to 'perform' or even how close you feel to your partner at any given point of time. It's unrealistic to expect both partners to constantly ride the same wave at the same time. The trouble, as the researchers explain, is that we live in a highly sexualized society where everyone feels as though their peers are out there having frequent, passionate sex — when that may not necessarily be the case. We often inherit rigid beliefs about what sex should look like, which adds unnecessary pressure. However, couples must often juggle their careers, caretaking responsibilities, personal self-care as well as relational efforts. As a result, they may feel drained and can't always keep up the sex life they wish to have. This isn't either person's fault. However, intentionally making time for your sex life based on both partner's preferences can make a big difference if life often gets in the way. Scheduling sex might not sound passionate, but in reality, it's often key to bringing passion back. 2. You Fall Back On Old Coping Mechanisms When Things Get Tough If you grew up in a home where you were only told you're loved when you achieve something or where hugs and kisses were rare, you might find the idea of showing affection awkward, or even unsafe. Many of our sexual struggles stem from our childhood. We absorb unconscious messages about sex, bodies and emotional expression from parents, mentors, popular media and early relationships. These messages often live in our heads long after we've outgrown them. This leads you to internalize messages like, 'Don't be selfish,' or, 'Don't ask for what you want.' For those raised to be agreeable or not to take up space, speaking up about sexual wants and needs can feel daunting. According to the 2017 study, which refers to the Transactional Analysis framework, we tend to revert to what's called 'driver behavior' in times of relationship stress. These are automatic coping strategies that we learnt in childhood to feel accepted or safe. For instance, someone might be extra accommodating, try harder to please their partner or avoid conflict altogether, just to manage anxiety and seek reassurance. Imagine this: your partner constantly makes weekend plans without consulting you. You might avoid confronting them, telling yourself, 'It's not a big deal. I don't want to seem needy.' In turn, they never learn how much you value the weekends as a time for intimacy. But each time it happens, you still feel resentful. Until one day, you snap over something entirely unrelated, like them forgetting to do the dishes, and the reaction feels out of proportion. This blindsides your partner, who might have been under the impression that things are going well. Many couples hit a wall when one or both people try to suppress their discomfort to 'keep the peace,' but end up emotionally exploding at some point. 'When our sexual relationship is under stress, we often discount our own needs, decide that there must be something wrong with us, and overadapt to our partner,' the researchers note. This is where 'differentiation' comes in. It refers to your ability to stand up for what you believe and regulate your emotions in times of heightened stress and anxiety. This is the foundation of healthy intimacy. So, rather than trying to directly enhance your sex drive, it might be most helpful to start by examining how your mental conditioning around sex affects you, and to start working toward prioritizing and communicating your own needs. This can naturally enhance the intimacy in your relationship. Sex Improves With Time, Practice And Intention Sexual challenges in long-term relationships are not as uncommon as you might think. However, intentionally slowing down and making time for intimacy and emotional safety in your connection can turn things around. Most of all, it's important to tune out the inner critic that tells you you're not enough. You are allowed to ask for what you want and need. This is key to making room for emotional and physical closeness on your own terms, while still being mindful of your partner's needs. How satisfied are you with your sex life? Take this science-backed test to find out: Sexual Satisfaction Index

Rapid Review Quiz: Noncolorectal Gastrointestinal Cancers
Rapid Review Quiz: Noncolorectal Gastrointestinal Cancers

Medscape

time11 minutes ago

  • Medscape

Rapid Review Quiz: Noncolorectal Gastrointestinal Cancers

Noncolorectal gastrointestinal (GI) cancers represent a clinically significant and diverse group of malignancies impacting patient outcomes across multiple organ systems. Given the range in epidemiology, risk factors, and management strategies for these cancers, it is essential for clinicians to recognize and stay up to date on current guidelines related to their surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment. Familiarity with the evolving landscape of noncolorectal GI cancers is foundational for effective clinical decision making in everyday practice. According to current National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, pancreatic cancer surveillance should be considered in individuals with pathogenic variants in the STK11 germline, such as Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. An expert review of the current clinical practice guidance from the American Gastroenterological Association concurs that surveillance should be considered in patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome or other genetic syndromes associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer. Having only one first-degree relative with pancreatic cancer can increase risks; however, surveillance is generally recommended only when there is a stronger family history, such ≥ 2 affected relatives (along a the first-degree relative with pancreatic cancer) or additional genetic risk factors. Although smoking is a known risk factor for pancreatic cancer, surveillance in all smokers is typically not advised. Learn more about workup for pancreatic cancer. Over the past several decades, the number of new esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cases has declined in Western nations, including the US. However, the number of new esophageal adenocarcinoma diagnoses has simultaneously risen considerably in the West. This is consistent with other epidemiological data. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, rather than esophageal adenocarcinoma, has been strongly linked to alcohol use. Conversely, esophageal adenocarcinoma is more strongly associated with GERD and Barrett esophagus. Of the two main types of esophageal cancer, data indicate squamous cell carcinoma generally has a poorer prognosis than adenocarcinoma. Learn more about the background of esophageal cancer. Although incidence is decreasing, hepatitis B infection remains the most common cause of HCC globally. However, MASLD has overtaken hepatitis C virus infection as the leading cause of HCC in patients listed for liver transplantation in the US. Further, one study found that MASLD represented the most common (35.6%) underlying cause of the condition. Alcohol-associated liver disease accounts for a minority of HCC cases in the US, representing up to 5.6% in recent analyses. Learn more about HCC etiology. Gallstones are an established risk factor for gallbladder carcinoma. Most cases of gallbladder cancer are adenocarcinoma rather than squamous cell carcinoma. Unfortunately, gallbladder carcinomas are usually identified at nonresectable stages , largely owing to the similarity in symptoms to more benign conditions, such as cholecystitis. Jaundice is typically an indicator of poor prognosis in gallbladder carcinoma. Learn more about deterrence/prevention of gallbladder cancer. The latest guidelines from the NCCN recommend patients with previously untreated, advanced, HER2-positive gastric cancer receive a combination of platinum- and fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy and HER2-targeted therapy in the form of trastuzumab as an initial therapy. Guidelines from the American Society of Clinical Oncology similarly recommend trastuzumab plus pembrolizumab in conjunction with chemotherapy that is either fluoropyrimidine- or oxaliplatin-based as an initial therapy for this population. Chemotherapy with ICI is generally indicated for HER2-negative cases, not as an initial therapy in HER2-positive cases. Chemotherapy alone is not considered optimal therapy in confirmed HER2-positive cases, and ICI monotherapy is not recommended as an initial therapy for this group. Learn more about the treatment of gastric cancer.

Sarepta Needs to Show FDA Elevidys Won't Cause More Deaths
Sarepta Needs to Show FDA Elevidys Won't Cause More Deaths

Bloomberg

time12 minutes ago

  • Bloomberg

Sarepta Needs to Show FDA Elevidys Won't Cause More Deaths

The Food and Drug Administration won't sign off on Sarepta Therapeutics Inc. bringing its controversial gene therapy back to the market until the company can persuade US regulators that it won't cause more deaths, according to an official familiar with the situation. The FDA has not seen a convincing explanation as to why Sarepta's gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Elevidys, was tied to two fatal cases of liver failure, the official said, and there may be no single, easily addressable problem the company can quickly fix. A third fatal case of liver failure that occurred during a trial of a separate but similar Sarepta gene therapy is unquestionably relevant information to the safety of Elevidys, said the official, who declined to be identified because the agency's deliberations are private.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store