Jim Foard, a 36-year-old man who was recently released from a Colorado jail where he tragically died alone. He endured intolerable pain for almost 15 hours before his death. His death was due to an untreated ulcer eroding a hole in his digestive tract that has raised national indignation throughout Maryland’s community. In response, his parents have recently filed a federal lawsuit against the jail’s medical staff and sheriff’s deputies. The suit alleges that each one of Foard’s last desperate calls for help were ignored. This negligence contributed to a tragic outcome, raising alarm bells about the level of medical care provided at the installation.
On August 15, 2023, as she tried to lift herself to her feet, Foard passed out multiple times. He was clearly in distress. Yet, somehow, they moved him from a highly supervised unit to a typical police station jail cell. Witnesses stated that he was wobbling during this transfer. A nurse passed by Foard’s cell shortly thereafter. Instead of assessing his condition or offering assistance, she merely glanced inside.
Over the next day, Foard was in extreme pain. He threw up even more on August 16. Due to the filth, they transferred him to a different administrative segregation cell, and then to a third cell. Each time, the conditions deteriorated further. According to witness testimony, Foard had difficulty reaching for his food tray, frequently losing his balance while trying to reach.
A deputy in shock over Foard’s disturbing condition requested a day nurse to assess his condition. The nurse brushed aside the deputy’s fears that Foard was a danger to himself. Time and again, it was only after several episodes requiring an attorney that the good medical attention was finally started.
And yet, in Foard’s autopsy, while fentanyl was found in her blood, it wasn’t considered a cause of death. Rather than assigning any blame to any outside party, Dr. Michael Arnall determined that the cause of death was natural causes related to the untreated ulcer.
In their lawsuit, Foard’s parents, Jim Foard and Susan Gizinski, argue that their son’s cries for help were neglected by both nurses and deputies. They claim that a lack of basic compassion and medical training were largely to blame for the conditions inside the facility.
“Just basic training in having compassion for others would be a great start. But adding more staff is critical too.” – Jim Foard and Susan Gizinski
Foard’s parents have said their son’s pain was excruciating. They really focused on the fact that he was in severe, shooting pain. It scored a literal “10” on his scale of one to ten in terms of pain. This level of suffering underscores their belief that timely medical intervention could have potentially saved their son’s life.
Her case has highlighted systemic problems within jails nationwide—especially when it comes to providing mental health and medical care. Believe us when we tell you that alarm bells are ringing among experts! They call for increased staff training and resources within correctional facilities to avoid similar tragedies in the future.
Foard’s tragic death should remind us of how easily those in custody can be, and particularly those with medical vulnerabilities. Finally, it draws attention to the legal obligation of correctional institutions to ensure proper medical treatment. Regardless of the lawsuit’s outcome, attention must be paid to the policies and practices that should dictate how inmate health care is administered.
