Attorneys for the family of a man who died from meningitis last week at Ventress Correctional Facility say correctional officers "provided insufficient medical care" leading to his death. They also claimed correctional officers "allowed this outbreak to spread," according to a statement from Revill Law Firm.
Attorneys identified the inmate who died as Michael Eddings. The Alabama Department of Public Health said three inmates were infected with streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. Two developed meningitis, including the inmate who died.
Eddings died on Sept. 24 at an area hospital, officials said. At the time, ADOC officials said no foul play was suspected in his death.
"Mr. Eddings suffered no chronic medical issues that would have contributed to his death. The Depart of Corrections and its officers were aware of him being sick beginning that preceding Wednesday, September 19, 2018, but were deliberately indifferent to his medical needs. During the days leading up to his death, Ventress Correctional Facility and those working there provided insufficient medical care leading to Mr. Eddings' death and allowed this outbreak to spread," attorneys said in a statement released Tuesday.
The attorneys also claimed no autopsy was performed on Eddings' body, "contrary to what was stated by the Alabama Department of Public Health. This is concerning given the seriousness of the disease that caused Mr. Eddings' death and the eventual spread to the other prisoners."
The ADOC said last week it would provide antibiotics to inmates and staff who have had close contact or shared cigarettes with infected inmates and to those who have a fever or flu-like illness. The ADPH has also ordered vaccine for those not vaccinated previously.
"The family and legal counsel for Mr. Eddings plan on pursuing every means necessary to gain justice for Mr. Eddings' needless death and ask that the Department of Corrections be open and transparent about what happened at Ventress Correctional Facility in the time leading up to his death. This death was avoidable, and measures must be put into place to prevent the Alabama Department of Corrections from allowing this to happen again," the statement said.
The ADPH requested assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Further information about Eddings' death or the outbreak was not immediately available.