Emily Rae Rice bled to death in the Denver City Jail after being released from the Denver Health Medical Center. She had been in a car accident as a result of driving under the influence. U.S. District Court records show that Denver Health was cited for failure to diagnose and treat her injuries before releasing her to the jail. She had suffered a lacerated spleen and liver.
Rice had been taken to Denver Health by ambulance and a graduate nurse and paramedic student had reported to the primary care nurse and physician that she was complaining of shoulder and abdominal pain. However, there was no follow-up examination of the abdomen before she was transferred to the jail.
Investigation by authorities found that Denver Health failed to provide Rice adequate medical screening; failed to ensure that Rice received adequate assessment and treatment to stabilize her medical condition; and failed to ensure that her medical condition was stabilized before she was transferred to the jail.
Such deficiencies violate the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, designed to guard against hospitals dumping patients.
The family has settled with Denver Health for 4 million dollars but the settlement does not include others named in the suit – the Denver Sheriff’s Department and several deputies.
The family also has been critical of the sheriff’s employees at the jail. They say they were negligent in getting Rice medical care despite her pleas for help and the warnings of fellow inmates who were watching her suffer.
An internal-affairs investigation at the jail determined that two deputies had failed to make required visits to check on Rice. The jail has denied that the failure to check on Rice played a role in her death.
Jim
Dave