 | |
|
# 112 / 2009-02-18 Vincent Padgett, Head Injury I am asking for your help to get Medical Care for Mr. Padgett immediately and insist that the threats be stopped because this only increases the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as result of the head injury.
Appeal for Vincent Padgett #11782000 Vincent Padgett was hit on the head in July of 2006. He was transferred to another prison for his safety and he started getting headaches. His headaches got steadily worse and he became angry, depressed, and suicidal and tried to take his life several times, and his personality changed. I didn't know who he was. He changed right before my eyes. On May 29, 2007 they took him to the hospital to have a CT scan and found a large subdural hematoma that needed surgery. His brain was smashed to one side and the center line was off to the right hand side. It's called a midline shift. The left ventricle was completely smashed shut. They cut through the skull and drained the blood. The blood was dark and oily and there were large clots. He was told that he would continue to have headaches and could have seizures. The thing we noticed the most was the personality changes. He is experiencing a lot of emotional problems including, depression, anxiety, irritability, anger, paranoia, confusion, frustration, agitation, and sleep disturbances, sleeping 5 hours in 6 days. He also has dramatic mood swings. He has had behavioral problems that include impulsivity, acting out, emotional outbursts, and an inability to take responsibility or accept criticism and is suicidal. He speaks of dying quite often and thinks of ways to accomplish this. Many TBI patients can be helped with therapy and medication, but Vincent is not getting that. He has no therapist, and no case worker. He has no one. He had a psychologist that was an outside contract worker. In her reports she made recommendations for Vincent that have been ignored. Here are her words, "The current problem of not being able to go to the dining hall for meals does not appear to be the result of poor motivation but instead seems to be because of extreme increased symptoms of PTSD hyperarousal triggered by the dining hall environment, which is inherently more dangerous to the client than the mental health infirmary dining environment. In addition, limitations on available medication options and reduced options for counseling techniques for treating PTSD within the GP environment also increase the difficulty of treating PTSD symptoms within the GP environment, relative to the MHI environment. He [Vincent] is still adjusting to the many cognitive and psychological changes he experienced after the head injury. This increases his depression." The psychologist goes on to say: The major current issue, however, continues to be his inability to secure the basic need of food because of the extreme hyuperarousal PTSD symptoms he experiences. He is currently living on food from canteen, and this inability to have balanced nutrition increases his vulnerability to suicidal ideation and acts, other signs of depression and major anxiety symptoms in addition to PTSD symptoms. The current risk for destabilization because of this issue remains very high." She addressed Vincent's medical issues and goals saying: "Because he suffered from a major head injury and reported symptoms that could be representative of the long term effects of a traumatic brain injury he was helped to develop a greater understanding of the management of any residual symptoms he still experiences. (E.g. memory problems, impulsiveness, and greater difficulties managing his emotions). Although he always communicates very effectively within the counseling relationship, he has often found it very difficult to communicate effectively with other OSP staff members. He works well when he is given fair and logical reasons for specific actions as well as when he feels that individuals are being honest, direct, open and respectful with him. The doctor goes on to say: He is currently living on food from canteen and this inability to have balanced nutrition increases his vulnerability to suicidal ideation and acts, other signs of depression and major anxiety symptoms in addition to PTSD symptoms. The current risk for destabilization because of this issue remains very high. Vincent shows much potential for further development in many of the areas of symptom management if he continues to receive individual counseling and if additional accommodation is provided by OSP staff to his current medical, emotional, physical and safety needs. Without such accommodation he remains at high risk for increased suicidal ideation and suicidal acts with an intention of completion rather than manipulation." As of February 15, 2009 Vincent is exhibiting despair, fear, paranoia, lack of rational thought and is extremely suicidal. He is having headaches and talks of nothing but dying. He sees no reason to live and is probably planning his demise at this very moment. Vincent needs help and is getting none from the staff. They are doing just the opposite for him. They are going to take him off medications to see what happens and no one is allowed to speak to him. They are isolating him and keeping him alone. He is being told constantly that they are going to send him back to GP and ship him out to another prison far away from family. He isn't being given help, only disrespect and threats. He is being tortured and can't handle it anymore. The staff has also put into Vincent's chart that he is a predator. He is not a predator and has never harmed or stalked a woman. Just the opposite. His fiancée abused him. I was witness to that and he took it without knowing what else to do. They finally broke up. The doctor that saw Vincent said that Vincent's file seemed smaller. It appears that documents are being taken out of Vincent's file and they are in the process of changing his diagnosis so that he can be reclassified and shipped out. This is all designed so that the State of Oregon will not be held accountable for the damage they did to Vincent through the injury and medical neglect that caused his brain damage. Respectfully, ________________________________ Name, Address
Senator Floyd Prozanski,Committee Chairman
Senate Judiciary
Brian Belleque, Superintendent
Brain Injury Association of Oregon
Oregon CURE
Disability Rights Oregon
Governor Kulongoski
Director Max Williams, DOC
CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT
PLEASE HELP BY : Letters in support of Vincent would be much
appreciated to help me to stop the Department of Corrections from torturing him any further. Those of you who have dealt with the prison system know how hard it is for one person to stop mistreatment and get something done. Please write to the following in support of Vincent. We need your help:
| |
Make Your Voice Be Heard! | |
Contact the Media! | |
|
Who Represents Me? | |
| |