[tirzo13]

Why should they get free medical care?

because they are wards of the state, the state has to provide for them, as they are unable to provide for themself.

No matter what crime they did, i'm not there judge, jury or executioner, i'm simply there nurse doing what i was trained to do.
Provided medical care is one of the things that sets us apart from the rest of the world.
Other countries convict our americans over sees, we go crazy when we see how they treat our citizens.
If we don't provide medical care, then they will sue us.
All the prisoner's silly lawsuits is another problem.

[Truegem]

The LIBERAL media almost always portrays the poor inmate who couldn't get medical care. But they never portray them as the manipulators and liars and as wasting tax dollars with frivolous or twisted schemes. I'm convinced that they take a medicine that was given to them in error on PURPOSE in hopes that they will get sick so they can sue! You ask them "why did you take it if it didn't look like the medicine you usually take?" and they have a half-assed reply. (Not that we have a ton of med errors, but they do occur.)
So, sure, people do deserve medical care, but it's the ones that abuse it that annoy us all. And that is a huge percentage of them. Come on, even you and I have faked illness for one reason or another. (Calling in sick when not sick.) It's just the cost and the constant attempts at manipulation that get soooo old! Even though I am not personally responsible for the cost, it reeeeally bugs me! They may think they are only one person making a false claim, but they don't realize it adds up to millions of dollars!

[Truegem]

Oh and OF COURSE they should get medical care for free. For all of the reasons that have been stated. For those of you who are acting like this was a stupid question, you might need to know, I think it was a hypothetical question. And I think it has created some very interesting discussion.

[Nrsndlz1]

Well because it is their constitutional right. But, is it right? That is a forever debatable question. It is frustrating to see those that truly need or deserve free medical care and do not receive it versus inmates who do get free medical care. Not all inmates in every state receive free medical care at the county jail level.

[Weeping Willow]

I think we can and should limit inmates' medical care. They should certainly receive basic care (food, clothing, some medical care) but it need not be top cut beef, Old Navy, or absolutely marvelous medical care. Paying patients don't get that. Inmates don't have to have it, either. We need to be decent and courteous but we don't have to give them the Ritz. I have seen where anyone who wanted it could get a "cold set up", that is, Tylenol and Sudafed, at sick call 5 days per week - whether they needed it or not. When it was cut out due to budget, our workload decreased and the cost was more manageable and those who really needed it could and did still get it.

Bandaids were reserved only for open wounds and areas that needed padding. And it was the nurse's call, not the inmate's say so.

Our doc was ordered to start using her I&D skills, her pelvic exam skills, her derm and ENT skills, etc. We started doing ECG's in house, rather than at County hospital or private contracted hospital. Someone has to pay for everythig. We even started charging inmates $1 to see the doc. If they didn't have it, they were put to work and/or their families paid it before they got to visit with them next visiting day. Everyone always managed to fork over a buck.

[MadisonsMomRN]

I agree with the fact that they deserve basic medical care. What I hate is when they make it definitely know that they are entitled. They come to medical crying wolf with chest pain or vomiting... so we house them in medical for observation. Many inmates hate it. ( this is at the county jail I work at) Our jail charges $4 a visit for sick calls. Physicals are free. US Marshalls and INS pay $0 for everything. We do almost everything inhouse... ekg's, pelvics, I&D's etc. The pregnant ones do go out for ob appts.

Recently, we took ALL narcs including methadone out. They get nothing. We stock Tylenol 3 and thats it. If they are ordered T3 they must be housed in medical to receive it. We have Serax and Librium for alcohol detox. We do stock haldol, congentin, benadryl, and ativan IM for the extremely combative or psych patients. I don't know how many heroin addicts come in and ask for methadone. Nope... not this time. We monitor them thats all.

[RN.38SPCL]

Originally Posted by MadisonsMomRN

I agree with the fact that they deserve basic medical care. What I hate is when they make it definitely know that they are entitled. They come to medical crying wolf with chest pain or vomiting... so we house them in medical for observation. Many inmates hate it. ( this is at the county jail I work at) Our jail charges $4 a visit for sick calls. Physicals are free. US Marshalls and INS pay $0 for everything. We do almost everything inhouse... ekg's, pelvics, I&D's etc. The pregnant ones do go out for ob appts.

Recently, we took ALL narcs including methadone out. They get nothing. We stock Tylenol 3 and thats it. If they are ordered T3 they must be housed in medical to receive it. We have Serax and Librium for alcohol detox. We do stock haldol, congentin, benadryl, and ativan IM for the extremely combative or psych patients. I don't know how many heroin addicts come in and ask for methadone. Nope... not this time. We monitor them thats all.

Funny how stunned the inmates are when taught the difference between wants and needs in medical care. Since incarceration is not part of the service industry, comfort is not an issue that has to be addressed. You are supposed to be uncomfortable in jail. That's the whole point the judge tries to get accross. Medical care has become so service oriented on the outside that the general public truly doesn't know.

[Blackcat99]

I use to work at the jail and the new inmates would tell me they haven't taken any of their B/P meds on the outside for 3 months. Of course, once we would get the new inmates they would immediately become very angry and demand that they get their B/P pills right away-stat.

[RN.38SPCL]

Originally Posted by Blackcat99

I use to work at the jail and the new inmates would tell me they haven't taken any of their B/P meds on the outside for 3 months. Of course, once we would get the new inmates they would immediately become very angry and demand that they get their B/P pills right away-stat.

Exactly!! I hate that. I just had a female who came in and needed meds. the day after I refill for her, someone bonded her out. The thing that burns me is you can't not get their meds for them. If you call their FP and they have a diagnosis to support the med, you have no choice. But I do tell the inmates this, " You chose not to take your meds, I don't care what yoour reason is, so if you get sick before I can track down your doctor, it's your fault, not mine." I have a morbidly obese male right now who was involved in a high speed chase, cocaine possession. Obviously he was only selling. Anyway, he threatens to sue me because I refused to clip his toenails for him and gave him the clippers. He's mad because I would't get him a reacher so he wouldn't have to bend over to pick up things. Please!

[tencat]

I'm liberal on most things, but this issue is one of my conservative ones. I have a problem with inmates and their free medical care because I have a problem with a system that rewards those who do nothing to contribute to society (this includes SOME (not all) welfare recipients) and makes it darn hard for those who are trying to better their lives. Case in point: I have a friend who is on welfare. She needs it as she is a single mother who is getting an education and trying to make a better life for her and her child. She wants to have a job, but the minute she does that, she loses all her benefits that she desperately needs because she cannot make enough money to make it worth while to be off of welfare. She does not receive free medical care. With a part-time job she makes too much money for medicaid. In my mind she does deserve free medical care. I would have no issues or problems with inmates getting free care if people like my friend could have the same benefit. But, that's not the case, so I have a problem with inmates getting free medical care.