TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009
14 | COMMUNITY NEWS ABUSE >> continued from pg 7 threw up the green pills in front of the PCP, PA (NAME WITHELD). At 9:30 am the medical clinical director, Dr. Pigos, came to my cell. PA (NAME WITHELD) had been telling everyone that my problem was that I was eating lots of Snickers bars. Where he got this from I don’t know. By this time I had been the SMU for nearly three months and only 2 Snickers bars were missing from my property. Only two. Yet, since he was saying this, and because all that I wanted was to get my insulin back and stop the pain, I told Dr. Pigos to have the officers remove all of the food from my cell. This way, P.A. (NAME WITHELD) could stop telling this lie. The officers did this in front of the doctor. Now I was pleading with medical to restore my insulin. I continued explaining that I had never not had insulin. For over 16 years, I had continually been on insulin. I needed insulin. On Friday, I ate no food. Saturday was more of the same, only more intense. I received no insulin when the nurse came to work. Now, here I was, in a “medical observation” cell, after suffering from days of the exact same problems, yet I was given no medical aid. Instead, I was told to wait for two hours. I told the officers that I couldn’t wait. They watched as I
vomited blood. Then they told me that the lieutenant had left word for medical to see me first, as soon as he arrived at 6:00am. This was the most terrible pain that I can ever remember experiencing. I was not on able to move, so I lay on the cell floor in my own vomit and blood. No one came until 9:00am, five hours after I requested help. Instead of responding to my medical emergency, the nurse came at 9:00am for pill line. He told me that when he came at 6:00am he first went to the camp to pass out medications. Then, he came back to the penitentiary to pass out medications. He came to me last. When the nurse came, he came with a group of people. There was a lieutenant, one of the unit officers and a psychologist. I was cursed and told that I would not receive any medical aid because “you don’t need insulin.” The lieutenant ordered that I be handcuffed and shackled on the bed, even though I was not in a disciplinary case. The nurse checked my blood sugar and it was 600 again. I was given three i.v. bags, 10 units of insulin (which didn’t reduce my level) and another injection for the vomiting. All I could do was ask for insulin. I explained over and over again to everyone that I been on insulin for 16 years, how could they stop my insulin-my life line. I wasn’t eating snickers bars, they knew this because I had given them all of my food on the previous Thursday, and I had been in the observation cell since then. I had not eaten since Wednesday so I
had common-fare trays stacked up in the corner of the cell. Officers removed all of the food trays; they were still full. The nurse explained to me that my situation was like that of a car when the radiator runs out of water. The high blood sugar levels had me severely dehydrated, and like a car my body was seizing and breaking down. My insulin was still not resumed. Sunday was definitely my worst day; I really thought I might die. The pain was that terrible. I have never experienced pain like that in my life. Allah says, “And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, (al-Baqarah v. 155). Alhumdulillah, “Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.” On Monday evening I was finally given some insulin. I was only given 8 units, which is 1/3 of my normal evening dose. I was kept in the “observation” cell until Saturday, July 11, 2009, and I was only released because the cell was needed for its designated purpose -- disciplinary reasons. I was returned to my regular cell after more than two weeks in a sleep deprivation cell. My first meal was a piece of bread and a cup of milk on Monday June 29. I lost a lot of weight, so I requested to be weighed to know just how much I lost. That request has
been denied. The first week was the worst. Other than the problems that I mentioned above, I also had blurred vision for over a week, and it took me more than a week before I could walk straight. I prayed laying down, then sitting and then finally after a week I could pray standing again. The numbness in my toe arm and hand remain. I would never have believed that this kind of treatment could happen without witnessing it firsthand. After dealing with medical here for three months I am convinced that this treatment was no accident; this was done purposefully. It was only by Allah’s Mercy that I was able to get through this. Alhumduillah for Allah’s Mercy because these people have none. So, this is happening here in prisons in America. I can hardly believe it. So I am sure that it will be difficult for you to believe it too. I used to hear on the news about physical tortures occurring in places like Abu Gharaib prison and Guantanamo Bay, but not here. Be assured, Muslims are also being physically tortured in America. Thank you for listening brother. Allah ma’ak, Wa salaam, Your brother, Seifullah Chapman July 15, 2009