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Dateline: Intensive Care Unit Schuylkill Medical Center in Pottsville, PA
Mumia Abu-Jamal in Medical Crisis
Here is an excerpt from the hospital press conference yesterday:
Mumia's
wife and brother were allowed to see him separately for 30 minutes each
late this morning. The mobilization worked. But our job is not yet
done. On the morning of March 30, 2015 Mumia fainted in the prison and
was taken to the ICU of a nearby clinic. His blood sugar count was
dangerously high at 779. He was in a diabetic shock. For perspective:
diabetic coma is 800.
He is recovering slowly and still in ICU. His blood sugar is currently at 333. That Mumia had diabetes
was a complete shock to all of us. For the last 3 months, he has been
under medical care in the prison and diagnosed with eczema. And since he
had three "comprehensive" blood tests since February, diabetes should
have been diagnosed and treated accordingly. But it never was. Instead
he has been subjected to hell by the prison medical system. In January
Mumia was shaken out of a deep sleep by guards during count. For the
infraction of not being awake during count he was punished for 2 weeks,
without calls or yard. Deep trance-like sleep and lethargy were the
first signs of the problem. In addition to the physical depletion
produced by untreated diabetes, he was/is also dealing with a severe
outbreak of eczema. He likened his skin to that of an elephant's. It was
raw, blistered and bloody all over. He was so sick that he was not
taking visitors. The "meds" he was given for his skin produced an
extreme adverse reaction. His skin swelled and ruptured and he was put
in the prison infirmary for 2 weeks.
There's more, but the above point to negligence of the worse kind if not
an outright attempt on Mumia's life. We are demanding review of his
case by outside doctors and...since the world is watching, we are
calling for Mumia's immediate release. It's time to bring our brother
home. Johanna Fernandez
These two very very brief visits by his immediate family were
important. But the OUTRAGEOUS actions by the PA DOC continue. They are
controlling the hospitals actions and LIMITING all information about
his condtiion. Preventing the Mumia Abu-Jamal and his family from
getting access to the critical information they need for his care.
His family and lawyers still have very very little information about his
treatment and his conditions. They are trying to limit additional
visits.
It was inhumane that his family continues to be limited in accessing and
monitoring his condition and his health. Literally for 20 hours his
family was in the Intensive Care ICU and were told nothing.
Now that they have had a visit. They are attempting to speak with the doctors and get medical records.
Literally after 20 hours of torture Mumia remains in intensive care. .
Mumia's family is keeping vigil in the ICU critical care visiting room. Schuylkill Medical Center in Pottsville, PA.
His supporters and lawyers were at trial challenging the Revictimization
Review Act aka the "Mumia Silencing Act" in Harrisburg, PA when they
received word that he had been taken to the hospital.
The Abolitionist Law Center's Bret Grote is in Pottsville and taking all
necessary steps to gain access to his client for the family and access
to his medical records so that independent doctors can intervene.
Mumia Abu-Jamal’s brother Keith Cook stated “The rules that the prisons
have are very arcane. They don’t give out any information about
prisoners to their families or anyone else. It’s like you have your
hands tied because you don’t know how the prisoner is and you have no
way of talking to him. I remember a month ago--- Phil Africa exercising
in the prison, next thing they know they moved him to a hospital and
didn’t tell his family where he was, and three days later he was dead.
"It’s scary. This situation needs to change. The prison authorities need to be more humane to the families of prisoners.”
Pam Africa stated "Prison Officials are lying. Mumia is going through
torture at the hands of Department of Corrections through medical
neglect. It is clear to people that they want to kill Mumia. They
gave him the wrong medication which made his condition worse. Inmates on
the inside who questioned what was happening have been subjected to
direct retaliation by the superintendent. They have been moving
concerned inmates out of Mumia's unit in an effort to both bury and keep
this critical information from the public."
Johanna Fernandez of the New York Campaign to Bring Mumia Home noted
“Mumia has been complaining about being ill since January. If he had
gotten the proper care he needed originally, he would not be in this
situation. This crisis illustrates the problem of health care in
American prisons as a basic human rights violation. I am personally
concerned because Phil Africa of the MOVE organization was rushed to the
hospital not long ago in good health and a few days later he was dead.
We need to fight to defend Mumia’s life, and that of all prisoners.”
Bret Grote bretgrote@abolitionistlawcenter.org 412-654-9070
Johanna Fernandez 917-930-0804 jfernandez1202@gmail.com 917-930-0804
Pam Africa 267-760-7344
Keith Cook kdc52@aol.com 919-302-4177
Noelle Hanrahan info@prisonradio.org 415-706-5222
The Abolitionist Law Center is a public interest law firm inspired by
the struggle of political and politicized prisoners, and organized for
the purpose of abolishing class and race based mass incarceration in the
United States.
Link to Yesterday's press conference outside of the hospital in Pottsville, PA.
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CALL NOW and demand that Mumia's family can visit him at the medical center: 570-773-2158
SCI Mahanoy
301 Morea Rd, Frackville PA
Superindendent John Kerestes
(570) 773-2158 x8102
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We
do not trust that the prison officials will provide any transparency on
Mumia's medical emergency. They indeed told us Phil Africa was fine,
and he passed away the next day.
We need you to help us demand family visitation rights at Schuylkill Medical Center NOW!
We will send a trial update shortly.
Please make the call right now: 570-773-2158 x8102
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