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| Bill Ledford "HEALTH CARE IS WIDOC IS A HOT MESS" Bill Ledford 11 4 24 William N Ledford 80495 Columbia Correctional Institution PO Box 950 Portage,WI 53901 _____________________________ November 4, 2024 .Ms. Melissa Roberts, Deputy Secretary Department of Corrections PO Box 7925 Madison,WI 53707--7925 Re: Medical Care and lack of accountability in the DOC Dear Ms Roberts, it has come to my attention that you may be interested in information regarding the poor state of Medical Care in the DOC- the dangerous care. Of course for the most, part I can only speak for myself( though I am aware of many others relating to other prisoners). these following should suffice as an initial demonstration of the problem. The medical system in the DOC is a hot mess-.One of the underlying and primary problems is the doctors. I realize that it is difficult to get competent doctors to work in the DLC. When the doctors that do work in the DOC screw up- often badly- the DOC does not get rid of them( does not even discipline or hold them responsible), but instead ”recycles” them(. I. e, just transfers them around to various facilities over and over again.) 1. Prior to January 9, 2018, I had serious issues with severe edema and infections in my leg and feet. I complained often but nothing effective was done. As a result I had to be taken to Waupun Memorial Hospital. It was discovered that I was seriously dehydrated, had sepsis and incurable bone infection. I had to have my left foot amputated. If I had competent Medical Care this could have been prevented. I am a type 1 diabetic. 2. That same year while at WSPF( Boscobel) I developed a small sore on my second right toe. I asked for help but didn't get it when it became Infected. The toe became so infected that it had to be amputated. Post- op instructions were to monitor, clean and bandage daily. It was not done, even after I wrote HMS(RN) Waterman. She ignored me. As a result, I developed gangrene and on or about August 16th, 2018, my left foot had to be amputated as well. As to the above paragraphs,1and 2, could have been easily avoided with competent Medical care,( please note that prisoner Johnny Lacey# 71373 had the same happen to him around the same time and had his leg amputated below the knee. He and I were on the same lawsuit and many thousands of dollars had to be paid to us. That, too, could have been avoided.) 3. Since at least 2016 I have had severe edema in both lower legs which caused them to swell so badly that s e r e s fluid would leak copiously and nests of blisters would develop, burst, become sores and become infected. I have photos- and were very painful. Between 2016 and March 15th 2021,I agreed to and tried every bandaging system, treatment suggested by theDOC healthcare without success of improvement. My legs were also very painful and became even worse in that the skin became even worse in that it became hypersensitive making it it difficult and even impossible to wear or apply the bandaging.After multiple requests for pain medication that were denied, finally on March 15th 2021,chronic opioid use was approved. See Dr LaVoie’s progress note for March 15th 2021. Dr Ribault was never part of this meeting or discussion. The final approval for the pain medication was in March 17th 2021, and shortly thereafter the Unna Boots, C o b a n Wrap and T u b i grips could be placed on my legs again with reduced pain, just enough not to make it extremely painful. Within approximately 2 months the sores on my legs mostly healed.From that time on till December 14th 2021, Dr Ribault, ( another “recycled” doctor) had been trying to come up with excuses to have my Vicadent (opiod) Taken. He kept trying to say that I wasn't keeping my legs raised even though I was. He kept pushing this fabrication even though there was no evidence via logs, staff observation,etc, supporting his fabrication. In addition, from the start of taking the opioid, and as dictated by nurses for,months, including HMS Adams, I healed well and a few issues with my legs as I had previously. On December 14th, 2021, Dr Ribald, without discussing anything with me, sent an email to Dr Lavoie stating- and lying- that the opioid had been ineffective. even the HSU manager wrote that it had been very effective. However, without the medication my legs deteriorated and I had to spend several days in the UW- Hospital and subjected to painful treatments. The DOC did nothing to Dr Ribault other than protect him- and continue to pass him around to other facilities (“recycling”him) . 4).Approximately 2 1/2 years ago Dr Sukowaty came to CCI and when she did she dis continued restrictions, medical items(e.g., medical mattresses, shoes, wedges etc.) canceled off -site appointments,etc. Dr sukawadi discontinued my diabetic snack bag( evening) saying it was medically unnecessary- though I'd had it for 30 years. But more serious is the fact that she immediately, on her own, changed my diagnosis as a type 1 diabetic- which I had for 30 years to a type 2 and from that point was telling everyone, including healthcare providers. I had countless insulin reactions, yet did not have a diabetic snack bag. She did this to many prisoners. 5. Prior to March 5th, 2024, I had written to Dr Sukawadi about various sores and infections etc. She would cancel an appointment she had scheduled or simply disregardmy issues, for the most part. Just prior to March 5th 2024 they got worse, yet Dr Sukawaty essentially ignored me.On or about February 5th 2024, I developed covid-19 was and was given paxlovid. I was placed on 10- days quarantine nor am I allergic to that medication. On February 27th 2024 I was awakening in the a.m. to discover my face to be hugely swollen, my eyes sealed nearly and seris fluid covering my entire face,glazing it as if it were a glazed. It was clear and obvious that I had an infection. it was so serious that on February 28th 2024 during my regular leg bandaging I asked HSM Alana Acker to have me taken to the hospital to be treated. HMS Acura refused, actually stating that my condition was” not serious enough” when it clearly was.My face became even worse. On March 1st 2024, again during routine like, the nurse(RN Anderson, I believe her name was) called Dr Sukawadi to come in and examine my face, believing it necessary to go to the hospital. Dr sukowaty came into the room for less than 30 seconds ordered some useless OTC cream as if the issue was, as she described it, a “minor Dermatological” issue when it clearly was. I have colored photographs(s). I asked her to have me sent to the hospital for treatment. she, also staying at my condition was” not serious enough” when even a lay person could see it was very. I also did not feel well. On March 3,2024, I wrote a two- page Health Service request(HSR) to H SM Acker, again explain the situation and asking to be sent to the hospital. On March 4, 2024, she responded by stating that “Dr Sukowaty was on site and did not feel outside care was necessary” and refused to send me out. On March 5th, 202, while, Jared M a r k o w s k i was doing the 6:10 a.m. round, found me on the floor of my cell. They did not call an ambulance and even had me sit at the HSU for approximately an hour before they had guards driving to the hospital in a prison van. At the hospital, Divine Savior in Portage, they found that I was so sick with sepsis, renal failure, facial and orbital cellulitis, and right otitis externa, they determined I was too sick to be treated there and had to be transferred to the UW in Madison. When I got there I had a temperature 104 and a blood pressure. After testiing it was found I had serious sepsis, right leg cellulitis, facial cellulitis, orbital cellulitis, oral thrush, c d i f f, with serious diarrhea , Renal( kidney), otitis externa and s a c r a l wounds. I was put in the ICU and placed on powerful broad Spectrum IV antibiotics. Nothing was done about her for this either, but protected by the DOC. I would hope that something, some accountability, some, but- or don't see it happening given my Decades of experience with the DOC and its employees. sincerely, William and Ledford follow up letter, transcription coming |
11-18-24 update:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cq4rcA2jn8EWHhDdS-KAEfHiwAcDT5Wp/view?usp=sharing
intro back in July
INTRODUCTION
My name is William ("Bill") Ledford #80495. I'm currently confined at the Columbia Correctional Institution, P.O. Box 189, Phoenix, MD 21131 [3rd party mailing requirement] should you wish to reach me. I have been incarcerated for about 44-years now. I write now and later to educate on and provide insight for those in and out of prison. Is Anyone Really Watching In all of the time that I have been incarcerated I have always wanted to know if anyone has really been watching - even really cared - about what goes on in our prisons given that the very same tragedies and brutalities continue to no accountability. Should there be any doubt of the apparent indifference one just has to look at the recent eleven (11) deaths of prisoners at Waupun Correctional Institution (WCI) due to staff abuse and negligence. For likely the first time in its history,since approximately 1851, the Warden and guards were arrested and charged with serious felonies. However, that does not mean those Department of Corrections (DOC) will actually be held accountable. What will likely happen is that there will be delays and the charges will be reduced down to nothing and the matter forgotten with maybe an administrative band-aid to make it look like something done. Or the woman employee at the Columbia Correctional Institution (CCI) who last year was the Food Service Administrator (FSA) (head of the food services at the facility). What happened? She was caught embezzling money from the state by padding her time sheet: theft. She was then walked out of the facility. Was she arrested? No. Instead the DOC/CCI administrators worked to protect by apply- ing internal discipline - but it wasn't discipline. instead, she was given a 90-day suspension and allowed to return as the assistant FSA. If it were you or I ,we would have been immediately arrested and prosecuted, but not a DOC employee. Or the Health Services Manager (HSM) at the Wisconsin Secure Program Facility (WSFF - formally the Boscobel SuperMax) who in 2018 was responsible for the negligent amputation of my right foot for gangrene (I'm a Type I diabetic) and non-treatment of it; and for the same for another prisoner there (both of us on the same case winning several thousands of dollars), but whom had his right leg amputated up to the knee. What happens? She gets run out of there, but was later allowed to return as a nurse. There is just no actual accountability for these people. The DOC recycles them like aluminum cans thinking nobody is going to notice while they continue their destruction. But that is because nobody . Is watching or really appears to care. These are just a drip in the bucket to the say the least. I know that many have the mentality that I nor any other prisoner has a right to complain since we committed crimes, some very bad, and so don't deserve to be given any compassion or concern. That is simply untrue: no mater what was done in the past does not justify brutality and indifference and cruelty in the future. For those with that mentality should keep in mind that it is axiomatic that when you treat men or women like animals then don't be surprised when they act like 'animals - because that is how that cycle often begins: at home or their communities. |
a long time ordeal has ended for a bit- here is one letter, FFUP to DOC
CCI Warden Larry Fuchs
July 11. 2024
RE: Bill Ledford 80495
Hello,
I am deeply concerned about Bill Ledford. He is not feeling at all well and is nauseated all the time , particularly when he eats. I talked to HSU Nurse Brittany and she said Bill was on Hunger strike- I emailed him after my talk with Brittany and he responded He is not on hunger strike. He said he had eaten twice that day and regretted it as he felt much worse. He does not trust the nurses and has all kinds of legal efforts won and in process against the health establishment, so there is animosity on both sides. He is refusing to be touched by the nursing staff. He is finished with them as he considers them incompetent and hostile.
Bill has lost his feet and health because of the poor care he has received throughout his incarceration. I have run across crises with other type one diabetics in the system. For one, the prison fills its caloric requirement with cheap non nutritive, calorie rich Carbohydrates, which are the exact thing type one diabetics have the most trouble with. For another, there does not seem to be much understanding of the special needs of the insulin dependent diabetics or caring to take the time to get treatment, meds or food right. Bill has seen the worst of this and fears he is dying. We cannot let that happen, especially because of lack of care.
Please speak to Bill and then consider asking his provider to order an outside visit to the UW hospital system. Bill needs a change. I have known him for many years. He never lies, helps everyone he can and has a wide view,making him a good counselor. We need him.
Please talk to him and see what you can do.
Thank you for your attention.
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