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Atlanta Mainstream goes deeper into news covered by the mainstream media -- posting documents to show the story behind the story.
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Georgia
Detention Watch Renews Demands for Answers from ICE Regarding Death of Roberto
Martinez Medina Based on Review of Georgia State Medical Examiner’s Official
Autopsy Report and Mr. Medina’s medical records FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, June 17, 2009 CONTACT: Azadeh Shahshahani, ACLU of Georgia, 404-574-0851, ashahshahani@acluga.org PJ Edwards, (770) 312-7718, pilgrimage@travelerstogether.org Atlanta – Georgia Detention Watch today renewed demands for answers regarding the death of Roberto Martinez Medina, a 39-year-old immigrant held at the Stewart Detention Center, an immigration detention facility operated by the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), based on a review of the Georgia State Medical Examiner’s Official Autopsy Report and Mr. Medina’s medical records. Last week, Georgia Detention Watch held an all-day vigil in front of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office to commemorate the death of Roberto Martinez Medina. As a result of the action, that same day, a GBI spokesperson announced that Mr. Medina had died of Myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle which is usually caused by a viral infection and normally treatable. Based on the information provided to Georgia Detention Watch by Brian Spears, the attorney who represents Mr. Medina’s widow, the Assistant Field Office Director for ICE Detention and Removal Operations, Michael Webster, acknowledged to GBI investigators that Mr. Medina had experienced chest pain for three days prior to his death. Webster reported, however, that Medina “did not voice the complaint.” According to the records of St. Francis Hospital, located in Columbus, Georgia, Mr. Medina reported to staff that he had developed a fever and a cough and suffered chest pain starting a week before his hospitalization, and that the symptoms worsened in the three days before he was rushed to the hospital on the afternoon of March 10, 2009. Although hospital doctors were able to quickly diagnose Mr. Medina as suffering from Myocarditis, his condition rapidly deteriorated. Mr. Medina died in the early hours of March 11, 2009. According to Attorney Brian Spears, “We know HOW he died, but we do not know WHY he died. Why was he not diagnosed and treated sooner? For most patients, this heart condition is a treatable condition. We will not know whether his life could have been saved until ICE releases Medina’s medical records compiled while at the Stewart Detention Center.” A Freedom of Information Act request to ICE for additional information pertaining to Mr. Medina’s medical record as well as any medical tests and examinations is currently pending. “The revelation about the immediate cause of Mr. Medina’s death is troubling in light of our conversations with the detainees at Stewart where they spoke of infections and rashes that were left untreated and further stated that their requests for medical treatment and medication were not heeded,” said PJ Edwards, a Georgia Detention Watch member. Mr. Edwards was part of the Georgia Detention Watch delegation that paid a visit to the Stewart Detention Center in December 2008. He contributed to writing of the report on detention conditions at the Stewart Detention Center based on interviews with sixteen detainees. “In addition, most detainees complained about the lack of bilingual staff at the detention center; this makes it very difficult for the detainees to communicate with personnel about their health problems,” continued Mr. Edwards. The Georgia Detention Watch report used the ICE Performance Based National Detention Standards as the standard by which to gauge conditions at Stewart and made specific recommendations in several areas in addition to medical care, including food services, the disciplinary system, personal hygiene, and staff training and development. Members of Georgia Detention Watch and partner organizations have requested on several occasions to meet with ICE to discuss the findings of the report, but have not received a response. The death of Roberto Martinez Medina marks the latest in the tragically mounting number of immigrant deaths in the custody of ICE – at least 90 reported deaths since October 2003. Many of the deaths could have been prevented through timely and effective access to healthcare. Due to the absence of enforceable standards and an independent oversight mechanism, ICE and the corporations that contract with it, such as CCA, have for the most part escaped accountability. ### Georgia Detention Watch is a coalition of organizations and individuals that advocates alongside immigrants to end the inhumane and unjust detention and law enforcement policies and practices directed against immigrant communities in our state. Our coalition includes activists, community organizers, persons of faith, lawyers, and many more. |
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Statements, records at odds on DK tax break Charges: Judge's fund equipped police Sembler tax break could cost DeKalb $19 million Baker: PSC vote for new chair broke Georgia law Atlanta sits on $4 million in user refunds Ethics agency drops Lisa Borders lobbying case Bolton took comp time for movie, Tupac food drive DeKalb may owe Bolton thousands Report: DK chief hid luxury cars DK chief's 56 unapproved comp days ATL schools to renegotiate BeltLine deal Fired DeKalb chief scored perfect eval Regents' Vigil -- $76 million in sales to Georgia New jobs would cost Georgians $265K apiece BeltLine bill would avoid new vote MARTA OK'd gave 10-40% raises to 114 |
