Alabama: HIV Inmates' Attorneys File Contempt Motion Against State

On Thursday, attorneys for 240 HIV-positive prisoners at Alabama's Limestone Correctional Facility filed a contempt motion in U.S. District Court, accusing prison officials of violating an agreement to improve the inmates' medical care. Limestone has no specialist for the prisoners and has frequent gaps in medication, the attorneys said.

The attorneys are requesting that U.S. District Court Judge Karon Bowdre in Birmingham hold the state in contempt of court for failing to comply with an April 2004 settlement over inmate housing and medical care. On Friday, Department of Corrections attorney Kim Thomas said she would not comment on the motion until after she had read it.

The motion notes that two physicians hired in the last eight months as part of the settlement have recently resigned. In a memo, one of the doctors, Dr. Valda Chijide, detailed dozens of medical shortcomings, including chaotic record keeping and a rat in an exam room. Chijide said she was unable to care for patients because of disorganization in the medical unit and because prison staff had overruled her medical decisions.

Prior to the lawsuit filed by the Southern Center for Human Rights, Limestone's HIV inmates were housed in a drafty warehouse. From 1999 to 2002, at least 41 inmates died, some from starvation, SCHR said. Since the settlement, no HIV prisoners have died.

DOC has since hired a new medical contractor, PHS, and brought on a senior-level employee to monitor PHS' efforts. Compliance with the settlement is a priority, said DOC spokesperson Brian Corbett.

PHS Medical Director Dr. Carl Keldie said recruiting doctors and nurses has been a challenge. Currently, one doctor cares for more than 2,200 Limestone prisoners, including those in the HIV unit. A PHS supervisor in Montgomery has also been filling in, Keldie said.

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