Poor medical care in Florida’s prisons has been a longstanding issue that has garnered significant attention in recent years. According to a report by the Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC), the state’s prison system has struggled to provide adequate healthcare to inmates, leading to numerous preventable deaths and suffering.
One example of this problem is the case of Jerry J. Cummings, an inmate at the Union Correctional Institution in Florida. Cummings had a history of hypertension and was prescribed medication to control his blood pressure. However, he was denied his medication for several weeks, leading to his blood pressure spiking and eventually suffering a stroke. Cummings later died as a result of the stroke, which was determined to be preventable if he had received proper medical care.
Another example is the case of Latandra Ellington, an inmate at the Lowell Correctional Institution in Florida. Ellington complained of abdominal pain and requested to see a doctor, but her requests were denied. She eventually collapsed and died in her cell, with an autopsy revealing that she had a ruptured spleen.
In 2019, the Miami Herald reported on the case of Mark Joiner, an inmate at the Franklin Correctional Institution. Joiner had a history of diabetes and was prescribed insulin to control his condition. However, he was denied his insulin for several days, leading to his blood sugar levels spiking and eventually suffering a stroke. Joiner’s stroke was determined to be preventable if he had received proper medical care.
In 2020, the Tampa Bay Times published an investigation into the healthcare provided at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility. The investigation found that inmates at the facility were routinely denied necessary medical care and that staff at the facility were ill-equipped to handle medical emergencies. The investigation also revealed that the facility had a history of inadequate staffing and inadequate training for medical staff.
In 2021, the Florida Justice Institute filed a lawsuit against the FDOC on behalf of inmates at the Dade Correctional Institution, alleging that the facility had a history of denying necessary medical care to inmates. The lawsuit claimed that inmates at the facility were routinely denied access to medical treatment, leading to preventable deaths and suffering.
These cases are just a few examples of the poor medical care that has plagued Florida’s prison system. According to a report by the Southern Poverty Law Center, the FDOC has a history of understaffing its medical units and failing to provide necessary care to inmates. The lack of proper medical treatment has led to preventable deaths and suffering for many inmates.
The FDOC has faced criticism and legal action over its handling of healthcare in prisons. In 2018, a federal judge ordered the FDOC to provide better medical care to inmates, stating that the state was violating the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. Despite this ruling, concerns over the quality of medical care in Florida’s prisons persist.
In conclusion, poor medical care in Florida’s prisons is a serious issue that has led to preventable deaths and suffering for many inmates. The FDOC has faced criticism and legal action over its handling of healthcare in prisons, and there is still a long way to go in ensuring that inmates receive the necessary medical treatment.

“Florida’s prisons face ‘systematic’ medical neglect, Southern Poverty Law Center says,” Tampa Bay Times, https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2019/02/06/floridas-prisons-face-systematic-medical-neglect-southern-poverty-law-center-says/
“Federal judge orders Florida to improve medical care in prisons,” Miami Herald, https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article214788605.html
“Inmate deaths expose flaws in Florida’s prison healthcare,” Tampa Bay Times, https://www.tampabay.com/investigations/2021/01/03/inmate-deaths-expose-flaws-in-floridas-prison-healthcare/
“Florida Justice Institute files suit against Dade Correctional Institution,” Florida Justice Institute, https://floridajusticeinstitute.org/florida-justice-institute-files-suit-against-dade-correctional-institution/

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