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Mumia Abu-Jamal Has Active Hepatitis C; Is Suing Prison for Medical Neglect

by Kelsey Weymouth-Little, Prison Radio
On August 3, 2015, political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal’s lawyers filed an amended lawsuit suing Pennsylvania state prison staff for medical neglect. Two days prior, Abu-Jamal was informed by prison medical staff that he has active Hepatitis C, but is being refused critical treatment. Prison Radio, the San Francisco based non-profit that records Abu-Jamal’s radio commentaries, is calling for supporters world-wide to join the demand for his medical care by going to: bit.ly/fight4mumia
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On August 3, 2015, political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal’s lawyers filed an amended lawsuit suing Pennsylvania state prison staff for medical neglect.

Two days prior, Abu-Jamal was informed by prison medical staff that he has active Hepatitis C, which his outside doctors believe is the underlying cause of severe medical conditions—including a persistent full-body itching rash and open sores—from which Abu-Jamal has suffered for a year. Although Abu-Jamal tested positive for Hepatitis C in 2012, prison officials refused to conduct further testing to determine the viral load in his system, and only performed the testing recently under repeated pressure from Abu-Jamal’s lawyers and doctors. The prison is currently refusing to provide Abu-Jamal with any treatment for Hepatitis C.

Abu-Jamal’s year-long health crisis nearly became fatal on March 30, 2015, when he was rushed to Schuylkill Medical Center—unconscious, with life threatening blood sugar levels, and in renal failure. Although prison medical staff had been aware for several weeks of Abu-Jamal’s elevated glucose levels, they provided no treatment, and didn’t even inform Abu-Jamal of his condition. Prison officials’ refusal to offer testing and treatment for Abu-Jamal has resulted in severe symptoms that have persisted for months past his initial hospitalization—a full body rash and open sores, lower body swelling, and even a fever that lasted for over 10 days.

After Abu-Jamal was denied all visitation while hospitalized for a second time in May 2015, at Geisinger Medical Center, Abu-Jamal’s lawyers—Bret Grote of the Abolitionist Law Center and co-counsel Bob Boyle—filed a lawsuit in early June 2015, demanding that Abu-Jamal have access to his family, doctors, and lawyers while hospitalized. This lawsuit, Abu-Jamal v. Kerestes, remains active, and today his lawyers are amending the lawsuit to include medical neglect. They are demanding that the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections treat Abu-Jamal’s Hepatitis C.

Abu-Jamal is one of thousands of prisoners in the United States with Hepatitis C, and virtually none are given any treatment for it. In the past two months, prisoners with Hepatitis C in Minnesota, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania have filed civil action suits demanding treatment. New anti-viral medications have had over 95% success in curing Hepatitis C; however, the drugs cost close to $100,000 in the U.S. due to pharmaceutical companies’ monopoly pricing.

Prison Radio, the San Francisco based non-profit that records Abu-Jamal’s radio commentaries, is calling for supporters world-wide to join the demand for his medical care by going to: bit.ly/fight4mumia

They are also calling for mass phone calls into the state and prison at the contact information listed below.

PA Department of Corrections
Secretary John Wetzel
• 717-728-2573
ra-crpadocsecretary [at] pa.gov
• facebook.com/pages/Pennsylvania-Department-of-Corrections/489067241105682
• twitter.com/PAstateprisons
• 1920 Technology Parkway
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050

PA Governor Tom Wolf
• 717-787-2500
• 717-772-8284 (fax)
http://www.governor.pa.gov/contact (e-mail form)
• facebook.com/governorwolf
• twitter.com/governortomwolf
• 508 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120

Superintendent SCI Mahanoy
John Kerestes
• 570-773-2158 ext. 8102
• 301 Morea Road
Frackville, PA 17932

Correct Care Solutions Founder
Jerry Boyle
• 800-592-2974 ext. 5710
jboyle [at] correctcaresolutions.com
• 1283 Murfreesboro Rd, Suite 500
Nashville, TN 37217
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