NCJ Number
158129
Journal
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume: 22 Issue: 1/2 Dated: (1995) Pages: 165-178
Date Published
1995
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the circumstances surrounding the deaths of three inmates at the California Medical Facility.
Abstract
The inmates all died of hyperthermia on the same day in July 1991. The inmates apparently died from a combination of overheating, neglect, and ingestion of Haldol, a strong antipsychotic tranquilizer; at the time of their deaths, CMF was continuing to operate in violation of a court order to improve its psychiatric and medical care of patients. Haldol, as well as the medications which two of the three inmates were taking to counteract the nightmares suffered as a side effect of Haldol, can impair body temperature regulation. The author contends that the inmates died because they were housed in cells lacking air conditioning and because correctional guards were negligent in failing to monitor their condition. 2 tables, 15 notes, and 56 references