TAMPA - Another former inmate at the Hillsborough County jail has sued Prison Health Services, the company once in charge of inmate medical care, accusing the firm of taunting him instead of treating his injured hand.
Sean Norbury, now 21, had a severe hand fracture when he was jailed Oct. 3, 2003, according to the lawsuit filed Wednesday in Hillsborough County Circuit Court.
When he arrived at the jail, he pleaded for treatment, the suit says. But nurses taunted him, saying he shouldn't have hit anyone if his hand hurt, the suit says.
Jail records said he was charged with aggravated battery.
The next day, the jail's nurses and staff saw his hand was bruised and swollen and that he could not make a fist, the suit says. Norbury complained of pain and asked again for treatment but was ignored, the suit says.
On Oct. 8, 2003, an X-ray was ordered but never provided, the suit says. Norbury never saw a doctor at the jail. Two days later he was released on bail; his mother took him to St. Joseph's Hospital, which noted his fracture, Norbury said.
The negligence of the jail's medical staff caused him undue pain and suffering and ongoing medical problems, the suit says.
Earlier this week, a former inmate sued the company, accusing Prison Health Services of blocking treatment for HIV-related eye problems, resulting in blindness.
In another case, late last year Kimberly Grey sued saying she pleaded for medical help for 12 hours before delivering a baby boy in March 2004. Grey had complications for five days, she said. Jail officials did not call 911 until the baby arrived. The baby later died.
Prison Health Services was awarded a $12-million contract in 2002. But PHS no longer runs the jail infirmaries. The sheriff shifted last month to Armor Correctional Health Services.
