Monday, April 30, 2007

Lew Sterrett Does Not Provide Adequate Health Conditions

The Dallas County Jail has been accused of not providing adequate health conditions to inmates. Lee Jefferson and John Graves are suing the jail for a total of $950,000 for this health neglect case. "The men's families and lawyers say that they were denied adequate medical care inside the jail and that it contributed to or caused their dire conditions" (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/041907dnmetjailneglect.3899f9e.html). However, Sharon Phillips, vice president of Lew Sterrett Health Department, says that the jail was in a "good standard of care." More information can be found at http://www.utmb.edu/dcj/dallassterrett.htm.

The Dallas News site is reporting a story of health neglect with sufficient evidence that the jail provides unlivable conditions. The Lew Sterrett Justice Center web site avoids these accusations by providing broad comments such as they provide "daily healthcare needs, emergencies, and chronic care" to patients in need. But never really addressing the actual controversy. Lew Sterrett also defends their side by stating that the "patients are too mentally challenged to request medical assistance." In attempt to make themselves look better, they provide statistics saying they treat anywhere from 50-75 patients and emergencies daily.

But Mr. Jefferson did not receive the proper treatment he needed for his sickle-cell anemia until a month after he was put in jail. Dallas News reported, "The jail ran out of one of his medications, an antibiotic, according to his jail medical records." He stopped breathing and was left with severe brain damage. Lew Sterrett had no public comment. Ms. Phillips stands defending Lew Sterrett. There are many gaps to this story and it seems that Ms. Phillips is getting around the questions by answering them in broader terms. These two stories are definatly in disagreement, although evidence of each side of the story is proven.

Lew Sterrett Does Not Provide Adequate Health Conditions

The Dallas County Jail has been accused of not providing adequate health conditions to inmates. Lee Jefferson and John Graves are suing the jail for a total of $950,000 for this health neglect case. "The men's families and lawyers say that they were denied adequate medical care inside the jail and that it contributed to or caused their dire conditions" (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/041907dnmetjailneglect.3899f9e.html). However, Sharon Phillips, vice president of Lew Sterrett Health Department, says that the jail was in a "good standard of care." More information can be found at http://www.utmb.edu/dcj/dallassterrett.htm.

The Dallas News site is reporting a story of health neglect with sufficient evidence that the jail provides unlivable conditions. The Lew Sterrett Justice Center web site avoids these accusations by providing broad comments such as they provide "daily healthcare needs, emergencies, and chronic care" to patients in need. But never really addressing the actual controversy. Lew Sterrett also defends their side by stating that the "patients are too mentally challenged to request medical assistance." In attempt to make themselves look better, they provide statistics saying they treat anywhere from 50-75 patients and emergencies daily.

But Mr. Jefferson did not receive the proper treatment he needed for his sickle-cell anemia until a month after he was put in jail. Dallas News reported, "The jail ran out of one of his medications, an antibiotic, according to his jail medical records." He stopped breathing and was left with severe brain damage. Lew Sterrett had no public comment. Ms. Phillips stands defending Lew Sterrett. There are many gaps to this story and it seems that Ms. Phillips is getting around the questions by answering them in broader terms. These two stories are definatly in disagreement, although evidence of each side of the story is proven.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Information on WaterWays

March 27, 2008

Contact: Amanda Loyd

University of North Texas

(469)831-0900

What: WaterWays Conference

When: March 13-15 (Tuesday-Thursday)

Where: University of North Texas. For building and room numbers visit http://www.water.unt.edu/waterways

Why: Educate public of crucial water basin issues and raise awareness of the growing importance of water worldwide.

Who: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Waterkeeper Alliance

Ramaswamy R. Iyer, Former Secretary of Water, Govt. of India

John A. McLachlan, Director, RiverSphere and the Katrina Environmental Research & Restoration Network

How: Sponsored by the Dixon Water Foundation through the Philosophy of Water Project. Generous assistance has been provided by the Department of Environmental Journalism, the Elm Fork Education Center, the School of Visual Arts, the Institute of Applied Sciences, and the Department of Philosophy & Religion Studies at the University of North Texas-Denton.

WaterWays sessions are FREE and OPEN to the PUBLIC.