Family files lawsuit against Philadelphia prison over death of diabetic inmate – LAW

The family of diabetic inmate Louis Jung Jr., who died at Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia, filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday alleging that the prison withheld insulin and appropriate medical care, leading to his death.

Plaintiffs Jacob and James Jung, sons of Louis Jung Jr., are suing the City of Philadelphia, YesCare Corp, Carney, Lalitha Trivikram, Maureen Gay and Doe. Defendants 1 through 10. Louis Jung Jr., who had Type 1 diabetes, died of diabetic ketoacidosis on November 6, 2023 at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility. His sons claim his death was preventable.

The complaint alleges that the City of Philadelphia is responsible for providing medical care to inmates at the Philadelphia Department Prisons (PDP), including inmates at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Pennsylvania. Inmates with “serious, chronic illnesses” in particular are dependent on the care provided by the facility. Louis Jung Jr. had been incarcerated since December 2021, and the lawsuit alleges that the defendants failed to provide a plan of care, stabilize or test blood sugar levels, delayed emergency care, and housed him in a cell where he could not had access to medical care or was unable to receive insulin, resulting in death from diabetic ketoacidosis.

The complaint is based on 42 USC § 1983 (civil action for deprivation of rights), 42 US Code § 12131, which defines a qualified individual with a disability, and 29 US Code § 701. The complaint is also brought under the USC Fourteenth Amendment filed U.S. Constitution, which prohibits the state from taking the life of anyone, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which states “non-discrimination based on of …” is about disability in state and local government services.”

Two additional inmates died of diabetic ketoacidosis while incarcerated in Philadelphia Department Prisons (PDP) in 2014 and 2021. Each year, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) publishes standards of care to help healthcare providers manage diabetes. 2 million Americans have type 1 diabetes, and in 2021, diabetes was the eighth leading cause of death. Insulin is crucial in the treatment of diabetes and lack of treatment can lead to life-threatening conditions such as ketoacidosis.