TDOC’s Monitoring of Inmates with Hep C “Impressive”, “Comprehensive”
Federal judge rules in favor of the stateNashville- A federal judge has ruled against a group of inmates with chronic Hepatitis C (“HCV”) who challenged current Tennessee Department of Correction (“TDOC”) policies and procedures.
In the order from the U.S. District Court Middle District of Tennessee Nashville Division, the court did not find TDOC’s prioritization of treatment for inmates with severe cases to violate the constitutional rights of other inmates with the disease.
The ruling says TDOC’s treatment structure mirrors guidance from the U.S. Bureau of Prisons and that TDOC’s regular monitoring of HCV inmates is “impressive because it utilizes a comprehensive approach and demonstrates a willingness to update an inmate’s staging…and critically reflects TDOC’s subjective intent to provide ongoing assessment of all HCV inmates.”
In particular, TDOC medical director Dr. Kenneth Williams was found to have used his medical judgment to provide reasonable care through “creation, administration, and modification of TDOC policies and treatment protocol for HCV inmates.”
“Needless to say, we are very pleased with the result,” said Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III. “I appreciate, in particular, the efforts of the trial lawyers in our office, it was no easy task. Just as significant were the efforts of Governor Lee, the Department and the legislature. They took a number of decisive and costly steps to address a difficult set of circumstances. I don’t think this was lost on the Court.”
To read the order, click here: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/attorneygeneral/documents/pr/2019/pr19-40-order.pdf
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Press Release #19-40: TDOC’s Monitoring of Inmates with Hep C “Impressive”, “Comprehensive”