Kevin Tower Talks COVID, Insulin, and Wrongful Convictions From Inside a Michigan Prison
Tower says the prison has gotten insulin to prisoners in a timely manner, but many other issues remain.
The last time I caught up with Kevin Tower, a prisoner at the Lakeland Correctional Facility in Coldwater, Michigan, he was complaining that insulin was not being administered at the appropriate time to him and other prisoners.
Tower previously stated in part in an email to the US Attorney’s Office.
As usual, the first day or so, the staff and nurses are fairly coordinated. Then it becomes an inconvenience for them to run back and forth around the facility. What is occurring is getting our meals at one time and the insulin at another time or vice versa. When the facility is under normal operations insulin is always given to every prisoner (before regular medlines) in order for it to be timed with meals. That is how insulin is prescribed. There are more than one Diabetic Clinics or Endocrinologist in Grand Rapids. A quick call to them by your staff will verify this information regarding insulin administration.
This morning we received our breakfast at 7:15 and insulin at 9:15. Lunch at 11:25 and insulin at 1:25. Remember, short acting insulin should be taken before you eat. That means they were two and a half hours late.
They were late, because they are utilizing enough staff and they are giving regular medication out before the insulin is given out. In fact, the units that are not quarantined and eat about forty five minutes after us, receive their insulin before us and all of the units receive their other medications as well. They could bring our insulin on time if they only administered insulin first and passed other medications later as they do not have the same time sensitivity as insulin. This occurs while under normal operations and it should be occurring now. This facility has a history of mismanaging this. Low level providers (LPN'S) are making these decisions to alter prescriptions. This absolutely should not be occurring.
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