HIV+ PRISONERS AT CORCORAN PRISON TO STAGE ONE DAY MEDICATION STRIKE TODAY!

Prisoners with HIV in the Chronic Infectious Disease Unit (CID) at the California State Prison - Corcoran are on medication strike today, May 13, to demand adequate medical care and an end to punishment conditions for HIV prisoners there.

Two weeks ago, Corcoran¹s only HIV medical specialist was fired. A new general physician (not an HIV specialist), Dr. Friedman, has taken all HIV+ prisoners in the CID unit off their pain medication (including methadone). Many of these prisoners have painful conditions like peripheral neuropathy. This act amounts to torture for prisoners with HIV.

There is a general feeling in the CID/HIV unit that HIV+ prisoners are being singled out for the worst abuse and punishment conditions at Corcoran. This is the first time that HIV+ prisoners have gone on strike collectively since the early 1990s at the California Medical Facility at Vacaville.

HELP SUPPORT THE MEDICATION STRIKE!

Today, prisoners in the CID unit are refusing to take their medications to protest these unbearable and inhumane conditions. They are risking their health and wellbeing to participate in this protest. There will invariably be retaliation against the medication strikers.

Please take a minute TODAY to call or fax a quick letter to Corcoran prison warden, George Galaza. Let him know that you know about the medication strike and are aware of serious problems in medical care and treatment at Corcoran prison.

Here¹s the information. Please fax or call today!

Warden George Galaza
Corcoran State Prison
Phone: (559) 992-8800
Fax No. (559) 992-4636

Here¹s a sample message:

I fully support the prisoners who are on medication strike and are fighting for adequate medical care and treatment at Corcoran. Please investigate their charges and restore their pain medication immediately. Corcoran needs a HIV medical specialist. Prisoners with active HIV Disease need pain medication.

Prisoners with HIV would not refuse their medications unless there was an emergency in care. As the warden, you can respond and improve medical conditions there. Additionally, I oppose any acts of retaliation or punishment against the medication strikers.

Sincerely,



_______________________
Your Name

cc: Senator Richard Polanco, Joint Committee on Prison Construction and
Operations.
Fax No. (916) 327-8817

For more information contact the HIV/Hepatitis C in Prison Committee of California Prison Focus, 2940 16th Street, #307, San Francisco, CA 94103;
phone/fax (510) 665-1935
Website: http://www.prisons.org/hivin.htm


HIV/Hepatitis C in Prison Committee
California Prison Focus


MEDIA ADVISORY MEDIA ADVISORY MEDIA ADVISORY

HIV+ PRISONERS AT CORCORAN PRISON TO STAGE ONE DAY MEDICATION STRIKE TODAY
TO PROTEST LACK OF MEDICAL CARE

May 13 -According to California Prison Focus, a statewide prisoners¹ rights advocacy group, HIV+ prisoners in the Chronic Infectious Disease (CID) Unit at California State Prison-Corcoran will refuse to take all medications today to protest the lack of medical care and harsh conditions at that prison for those with HIV.

"Over the past two weeks, we have received numerous phone calls from HIV+ prisoners who have been taken abruptly off their pain medications by a new doctor," said Judy Greenspan, chairperson of CPF¹s HIV/Hepatitis C in Prison Committee. "Additionally, the only HIV-knowledgeable doctor was fired a couple of weeks ago so there are no longer any specialists on staff," Greenspan noted. According to CPF, there is a growing despair and desperation on the part of the HIV+ prisoners there.

California Prison Focus sent a letter to Corcoran¹s Warden George Galaza today bringing attention to the medication strike and urging his immediate attention to the following issues:

1) A recent decision by the new doctor to take all HIV+ prisoners in the CID unit off their pain medication.
2) The fact that Corcoran does not currently have an HIV medical specialist on staff.
3) Increased concerns by HIV+ prisoners that they are being singled out as a unit for unfair punishment and lockdowns.

Greenspan noted that the last time a large group of prisoners went on medication strike by refusing to take their HIV medications, was at the California Medical Facility Vacaville in the early 1990s to protest medical neglect and prisoner deaths. "We are beginning to see similar deaths due to lack of care at Corcoran. On May 3, Jeffrey Sutton, a prisoner co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C died from kidney failure after two unsuccessful weeks of accessing medical care," the CPF spokeswoman said.