A new lawsuit alleges that a California jail's medical staff withheld life-saving medication from an inmate with AIDS, leading to his preventable death. Nicholas Overfield, 38, was HIV-positive and required antiretroviral drugs to manage his condition.
Despite having his prescribed medication on hand and being informed of his need for it, jail staff allegedly failed to provide him with the crucial treatment.
Overfield's health rapidly deteriorated during his two-month detainment at the El Dorado County Jail. By April 2022, he was wheelchair-bound, disoriented, and unable to speak. His alarmed mother confronted the jail, but her pleas for explanation were met with indifference.
Overfield was eventually rushed to the hospital, where medical records confirmed he hadn't received his HIV medication since his arrest.
Tragically, the neglect had irreversible consequences. Overfield developed a deadly virus and passed away in June 2022. His family is now seeking justice through a wrongful death lawsuit against El Dorado County and Wellpath Community Care, the jail's healthcare contractor.
The lawsuit claims the defendants' negligence directly contributed to Overfield's suffering and death. It highlights a disturbing pattern of Wellpath failing to provide adequate medical care to incarcerated individuals, particularly those with HIV.
Attorneys representing the family emphasize that Overfield's case is not isolated, and similar incidents have been documented across California.
This tragedy raises critical questions about the responsibility of correctional facilities to protect the health and well-being of inmates, especially those with pre-existing medical conditions.
The lawsuit aims to hold El Dorado County and Wellpath accountable for their alleged disregard for basic human rights and medical ethics, and to prevent similar injustices from happening again.
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