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EMERGENCY APPEAL BY KAREN
Please help. I am a U.S. federal prisoner of the War on Drugs. After years of being misdiagnosed and mistreated, I have just been informed another radical attack of the disease would mean my feet will have to be amputated at the ankle. This is a direct result of years of neglect. In 1989, I was briefly held at FMC Lexington, where doctors diagnosed me with rheumatoid arthritis. I continued to be treated for this illness. The strongest medications for arthritis had absolutely no effect on me. For years I argued with doctors about this, but no one would listen. It did not make sense to me these treatments would not help as I had never been sick before. I repeatedly asked if it could be another illness. No, was always the reply. Eventually, I came across an article stating 10 per cent of arthritis patients were benefiting from antibiotic treatment. The rheumatoid specialist denied them to me. After five months of my harassing him, the clinical director of FCI Tallahassee prescribed antibiotics to me. Immediately, I began to experience some relief. On June 12, 1999, I was transferred to FMC Carswell, the only medical facility in the country for federal female patients, where it was instantly discovered that I have Lyme Disease. I have seen two Infectious Disease Control doctors, although due to the needs of the general population these doctors specialize in HIV and hepatitis. I have yet to see an actual Lyme doctor, and have been informed none are available to me. Thus far, I have been treated based on information (greatly outdated) I have provided the doctor myself. A team of surgeons reviewed the X-rays of my hands, declaring them beyond repair. On Tuesday, August 29, the podiatrist told me my feet are also irreparable, and that another major attack of the Lyme Disease would destroy what is left of my skeletal frame. My feet would have to be amputated at the ankle. Please send letters to the following, demanding I be seen by a Lyme doctor immediately. The doctors here are saying my condition is under control. It is not. I have gone from wearing a woman's size 5 shoe to a children's size 2 within the past two years. Nothing is under control. The same letter can be sent to all of the following:
Thank you very much for your time and assistance.
Thank you very much for your continued support. Without your assistance I never would have seen an outside specialist. It has been determined that I not only have Lyme Disease, but two other tick-borne diseases as well. All three are potentially fatal if left untreated. Although I have a positive diagnosis, I still have no care plan. Therefore, I am requesting your help again. The new warden, Lucy Mallisham, has recently reported to my family I have been refusing treatment. This is entirely untrue. She is attempting to protect herself from liability, and obstruct my access to medical care. By doing so, she is jeopardizing my life. The specialist did inform me that three persons died in the Fort Worth area last year after being misdiagnosed and mistreated with the very same medications I was given. However, he dodged all questions pertaining to my own situation. At this time I have no idea how to go about getting reparation. There is no way for me to gauge the amount of damage done. I need further help immediately. As a last resort to avoid amputation, I have made a desperate plea for compassionate release to obtain the medical care I am being deprived of. I have located two doctors mere blocks from my home in San Francisco who claim they can help me. Letters in support are needed. Points to address along with my dire need for immediate care include the fact that I am a non-violent offender who has served 90 per cent of my sentence. Another thing to bear in mind is that even in the United States medical attention is a right, not a privilege. My punishment was a term of imprisonment, not death or amputation. As it is right now, I am permanently crippled, and must endure what I have for the rest of my life. Letters seeking compassionate release must be sent right away to:
Thank you again for all your support.
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