DAYTON, Ohio (CN) - Wardens of 20 prisons in 13 states, and the director of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, allow Naphcare, a medical services provider, to demand that prisoners sign a waiver of liability before they get treatment, though the prisoners have no other way to get medical treatment, inmates say in a federal class action. They demand punitive damages for fraud, bad faith and civil rights violations.
One plaintiff says a man died in the Montgomery County Jail in Dayton because he did not receive treatment.
Naphcare is based in Birmingham, Ala., and has an office in Ohio. It provides medical services to inmates in 23 states, according to the complaint.
Bureau of Prisons Director/defendant Harley Lappin supervises the defendant prisons that contract with Naphcare.
Named as defendants are wardens, or sheriffs, or state directors of jails and prisons in Montgomery County, Ohio; San Bernardino County, Calif.; the Colorado Women's state prison in Denver; Newton County, N.J.; state prisons in Massachusetts, and others.
The class is represented by Dwight Brannon of Dayton.
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