John Caldwell, Medical Neglect

CONFIDENTIAL

Email from a Prisoner Activist to Governor Huckabee

From: Email address intentionally omitted
Date: Monday, 28 April 2003 20:16:03

Subject: Email to Governor
To: Angela Robinson

Subject: (no subject)
Date: April 28, 2003 7:14:01 PM Central Daylight Time
From:
To:

Dear Governor Huckabee,
It has been brought to my attention that Inmate John Caldwell #090188 is being threatened and his family harassed because they tried to obtain medical help for him. I am asking that you look into this matter immediately and see that this terrorism and harassment is stopped and that this inmate receive the medical attention that is necessary. Please do not delay in this matter as this man's life is at stake.

Name withheld intentionally
Organization withheld intentionally

*****************************************************************************

Letter to the Arkansas State Medical Board from Patsy Cryder with cc to Angela Robinson
2100 Riverfront Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202 (501) 296-1802 FAX (501) 603-3555 http://www.armedicalboard.org

April 28, 2003

Doug Lee, M.D.
Address withheld intentionally

Re: Angela Robinson, Patient/Complainant

Dear Dr. Lee:

Enclosed is a copy of a letter of complaint relative to you, which was received in this office. Before this office can proceed, a letter of explanation and copy of medical records are needed from you on or before May 13, 2003.

Upon receipt of your reply, the complaint and your response will be reviewed at the next meeting of the board. At the completion of that meeting, both you and the complainant will receive notice of the decision of the Board. However, if the Board requires further information in order to provide a ruling, you will be notified. After the Board makes its final rulings, the file, minus any medical records, will be under the Freedom of Information Law and will be available for public view.

The date of the next meeting at which this complaint may be presented is June 5-6, 2003.

Please understand the purpose of the Medical Board is to ensure public safety. Therefore, our office must process all complaints regardless of the subject matter.

Your prompt reply will allow the Board to resolve this matter as quickly as possible.

Sincerely,

Patsy Cryder
Executive Secretary

***************************************************************************

Letter from a Medical Doctor to Governor Huckabee

29 April 2003

Governor Mike Huckabee
State Capitol Room 250
Little Rock, AR 72201

http://www.statear.us/governor/staff.html---email to the Governor

RE: Your state inmate John Caldwell #090188

Dear Governor Huckabee,

A disturbing letter crossed my desk concerning the above inmate, which if true, requires immediate action by the appropriate authorities to arguably save a human life.

If the information related in the letter written by Mr. Caldwell is accurate, you are not responding to a potential scandal worse than what plagued your prison system before Terrence Miller became warden.

It is immaterial why Mr. Caldwell was incarcerated by the state of Arkansas-he is under your protection, and is not getting the care you have assumed by incarcerating him. Based on what Mr. Caldwell wrote, and what he wrote only, he has medical problems that require prompt investigation, and appropriate treatment. Can anyone at the DOC deny his medical claims?

Caldwell was sentenced to a prison term, not to a slow lingering death to what may very well be a cancer already out of control---tumors cannot be faked, nor can ophthalmoplegia of which he complains. This speaks of a serious illness that must be investigated, and cured if possible, or at least palliatative treatment is in order. The reality of his illness cannot be denied.

It is inhuman for the administration of the Arkansas Department of Corrections to punish the man for his wife's requests and then demands that he be treated in one way or another. If it is the policy of the Arkansas Department of Corrections not to treat serious and painful illness that inmates have, have the courage to say so publicly, and see how far it gets you publicly. By ignoring this letter, it will be presumed that you are hoping that the problem will be swept under the rug, and forgotten. It won't.

If any foul play happens to Mr. Caldwell, make no mistake that the world is watching, and there will be accountability later if not sooner.

I call on you Governor Huckabee, to personally investigate what is alleged, and take appropriate steps to correct what we perceive to be inhuman behavior at the Arkansas Department of Corrections. I wait your response.

Sincerely,

G M Lawrence, MD

*******************************************************************************

Letter from Angela Robinson to Official at
Medical Services in Arkansas DOC

May 2, 2003

Jerald Byer, Medical Services
Arkansas Department of Corrections
P. O. Box 8707
Pine Bluff, AR 81711-8707

RE: John Michael Caldwell #090188, E.A.R.U. (MAX) 5-2

Dear Mr. Byer:

I demand that you get the above referenced individual to the Jefferson Regional Medical Hospital IMMEDIATELY, TO HAVE HIS TUMORS REMOVED AND VISION RESTORED.

YOU ARE FULLY AWARE OF MR. CALDWELL'S CANCER. You are not going to continue to permit Mr. Caldwell's cancer TO PROGRESS AN ADDITIONAL THREE YEARS AND TAKE HIS LIFE!

Mr. Caldwell has the right to life-saving treatment JUST AS YOU HAVE RECEIVED TREATMENT FOR YOUR CANCER!

Should you continue to withhold this life-saving treatment, you can expect to see your name included on a lawsuit that WILL NOT BE SETTLED OUT OF COURT AND HIDDEN FROM THE PUBLIC AT-LARGE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Signed,

A. Robinson
Address intentionally omitted.

**************************************************************************************

Letter from Patsy Cryder at the Arkansas State Medical Board to Angela Robinson
May 7, 2003

Angela Robinson
Address intentionally withheld

RE: John Caldwell/Doug Lee, M.D.

Dear Ms. Robinson:

On May 7, 2003, we received a call from Dr. Doug Lee stating that Mr. Caldwell is an inmate at a local correction facility. Due to this fact, Mr. Caldwell's complaint must be processed according to the Arkansas Code 25-15-211, which states that,

"A complaint filed by an offender with a state licensing board or state licensing agency against a licensee of the board of agency shall not be heard by the board or agency unless the complaint is accompanied by appropriately verified documentation showing that the offender has exhausted all administrative remedies under the Department of Correction grievance procedure."

There, we will send Mr. Caldwell the appropriate official procedure to begin this process. And once this part is completed, we will continue with our review process.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.

Sincerely,

Patsy Cryder
Executive Secretary

*************************************************************************

Letter from the State of Arkansas House of Representatives
to the Director of the Department of Corrections

May 9, 2003

Mr. Leonard Norwell, Director
Department of Corrections
P. O. Box 8707
Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71611

Dear Mr. Norwell:

Please accept this letter as my request for assistance regarding one of my constituents. I have the enclosed letter explaining the situation for you to review. It concerns an inmate within the Department of Corrections, John Michael Caldwell #090188. I would appreciate you taking the time to review the letter and following up on the situation. I know that your time is valuable, but surely we can work together to get Mr. Caldwell's family some answers to their concerns.

I really appreciate any assistance you can offer me regarding this matter. If I can assist in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Signature was on original letter.

Lawrence Evert
State Representative

Enclosure

***********************************************************************************

Letter from Angela Robinson to Patsy Cryder at the Arkansas State Medical Board

May 10, 2003

Patsy Cryder
Arkansas State Medical board
2100 Riverfront Drive
Little Rock, AR 72201

RE: Angela Robinson as Complainant Against Doug Lee, M.D.

Dear Ms. Cryder:

The Arkansas State Medical Board has no right to delay MY COMPLAINT against Dr. Lee. If you would have taken the time to comprehend Arkansas Code 25-15-211, it clearly states:

A complaint filed by an offender....

THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED BY ME, ANGELA ROBINSON AND I AM NOT AN OFFENDER, try again Ms. Cryder.

Your continued delay to process MY CLAIM is allowing Dr. Lee and the State Medical Board to attempt to hide behind a code which does not apply to me. And if you had taken the time to read MY claim, it clearly states that I, ANGELA ROBINSON, WHO IS NOT AN OFFENDER FILED THE ABOVE COMPLAINT.

Would you kindly process my complaint immediately and stop quoting code to me that does not apply to me. The State Medical Board can not continue to look the other way while Dr. Lee is hastening the cancer and multiple diseases of Mr. Caldwell who is the patient and not the complainant. Please contact me by phone should your intent be to deny me my right to file this claim!

I REPEAT, ANGELA ROBINSON IS THE COMPLAINANT, AND YOU ALREADY KNOW THIS. DO NOT CONTINUE TO DELAY MY COMPLAINT.

Sincerely,

Angela Robinson
Address intentionally omitted
Phone intentionally omitted.

Continued on next page