Inmate Ronald Lane Died Following Medical Emergency While Staying At TDCJ Hospital Galveston
GALVESTON COUNTY, TEXAS (January 21, 2024) - A 68-year-old inmate identified as Ronald Lane has tragically died after a medical emergency TDCJ Hospital Galveston.
TDCJ officials are saying that the incident began on December 18. Ronald Lane was admitted to the hospital due to a medical condition.
He remained at the hospital for over three weeks. However, his condition continued to decline. Sadly, Ronald Lane was pronounced dead on January 12 by jail medical staff.
His medical cause of death was listed as septic shock. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For TDCJ Hospital Galveston Inmate Deaths
Inmates are at a greater risk from a variety of different health conditions including septic shock. According to the Journal of Correctional Healthcare, inmates were nearly 3 times more likely to die from septic shock than the general population. Roughly, 42.5% of inmates diagnosed with sepsis died compared to just 15.7% for non-inmates. This discrepancy highlights just one of the many health challenges that inmates face. There are a number of symptoms commonly associated with sepsis that jail officials should look for.
- Fever or low body temperature
- Rapid heart rate
- Rapid breathing
- Confusion
- Extreme fatigue
- Low blood pressure
Jails have a legal obligation to provide all inmates with healthcare. This begins when an inmate is first admitted. They will need a health screening to identify any pre-existing health conditions. If a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. A jail may have failed to properly care for an inmate with sepsis in a number of ways.
- Jail officials may have delayed getting an inmate medical attention.
- Jail officials may have not given an inmate proper antibiotic treatment. Sepsis is easily treatable with the right cocktail of antibiotics.
- Jail officials may have neglected to address the controlling source of the infection.
- Jail officials may have failed to recognize and act upon symptoms of sepsis.
A large portion of inmate deaths are preventable and due to some amount of medical neglect. An in-custody death is typically never the result of the inaction of a single person. Rather, they are much more likely to be the result of faulty systems and processes within a jail and its medical facilities. The family of any person that died at a county jail may have the ability to pursue damages through a constitutional claim.
Investigating TDCJ Hospital Galveston Inmate Deaths
We at Scott H. Palmer, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of Ronald Lane. The sheer number of in-custody deaths across Galveston County remains deeply concerning. It is our sincere hope that measures are taken to prevent similar tragedies.
Do you need more information about a Galveston County inmate death? Our team of civil rights attorneys are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that inmates are aware of their rights and that jails are upholding constitutional standards. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 214-987-4100.