TL/DR –
Isaiah Trammell, a 19-year-old with autism and ADHD, died in an Ohio jail after hitting his head against an unpadded cell wall. The private healthcare company NaphCare, which has a contract to provide medical and mental health care at the jail, is accused of not providing the necessary care to Trammell. NaphCare has a history of legal issues, has been involved in several deaths and has been penalized millions of dollars for failing to provide adequate staffing at jail facilities.
Ohio Inmate’s Death Raises Serious Concerns About Private Jail Healthcare
Isaiah Trammell, a 19-year-old with autism spectrum disorder, experienced a severe mental health episode while detained at Montgomery County jail in Ohio. Despite his pleas for assistance, he was denied basic resources like a blanket, mat, and a phone call, due to suicide precautions in place.
His self-soothing behavior, known as stimming, became more pronounced in jail without access to his medication or family. Trammell was placed in a restraint chair twice by officers who considered his behavior disruptive rather than a sign of distress.
Private healthcare companies such as NaphCare, a billion-dollar company, are contracted by US jails to provide medical and mental health care, often funded by taxpayers. NaphCare received substantial payment for their services at Montgomery County jail, yet they failed to provide adequate care for Isaiah Trammell.
Video footage from Trammell’s time in jail revealed an on-duty healthcare worker unsuccessfully trying to communicate with him before giving up. The official cause of death was deemed suicide after Trammell died three days later from hitting his head against the unpadded wall of his jail cell.
NaphCare’s track record, including Trammell’s case, includes a history of deaths, substandard care issues, and legal settlements. The company, based in Birmingham, Alabama, operates in 32 states and dozens of jails. A 2020 Reuters investigation found that jails contracted with NaphCare have the highest death tolls of any healthcare provider in the country.
The company was also forced to pay $27 million in a wrongful death settlement after denying anti-seizure medication to a woman in Washington state who subsequently died in their care.
Despite the concerns, the local government of Montgomery county renewed its contract with NaphCare in January, a deal valued at $7.6 million.
Trammell’s mother, Brandy Abner, mourns the loss of her son due to what she believes to be the negligence and inhumanity of the jail’s healthcare system. She said, “My son would be alive if [they] had done [their] job.”
—
Read More Health & Wellness News ; US News