Thread: U.S. agency looks into immigrant's illness, death in jail

http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpr ... 282015.htm


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Posted on Wed, Aug. 16, 2006



U.S. agency looks into immigrant's illness, death in jail

BY RUBÉN ROSARIO
Pioneer Press

Federal authorities are investigating the death of Maria Inamagua Merchan, an illegal immigrant who fell ill at the Ramsey County jail and later died while awaiting deportation.

The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, part of the Department of Homeland Security, confirmed Tuesday it is investigating Merchan's death. She collapsed in her cell five weeks after she was incarcerated for violation of a civil deportation order.

Merchan, 30, a native of Ecuador, lapsed into a coma April 3 after hitting her head on a jail bed. Ramsey County is among a few jails in the metro area that routinely contract to house federal detainees awaiting deportation.

Accounts from Merchan's relatives and medical records obtained by the Pioneer Press indicate the woman was observed for several hours at the St. Paul jail facility before she was rushed by ambulance to nearby Regions Hospital, less than a quarter mile away.

The hospitalization took place after Merchan and relatives reportedly informed jail officials throughout her detainment that she was suffering from persistent headaches and pain. Jail officials acknowledged she was given Tylenol and was never seen by a specialist or outside physician during her jail stay.

At the hospital, Merchan, a restaurant worker, was diagnosed as suffering from a pre-existing and previously unknown parasitic disease that deprived her brain of oxygen. She was taken off life support and pronounced dead a week later.

The federal probe was launched in response to a request by members of the Maria Inamagua Campaign for Justice. The Minneapolis-based group received letters of support in their quest from organizations such as the St. Paul chapter of the NAACP and the Jewish Action Committee.

The probe, which will include a review of medical records and treatment protocol by a physician retained by the federal agency, could last up to six months.

"I believe this is significant and a step in the right direction," said Peter Brown, president of the ad hoc committee and a member of the Twin Cities chapter of the National Lawyers Guild. "This, to us, speaks to the power and validity of the complaint."

Ramsey County officials believe proper protocol was followed and said they were not aware of the woman's pre-existing medical condition.

Sheriff Bob Fletcher said he has been told the federal probe is an administrative review of the contract between Ramsey County and the federal immigration agencies. Fletcher noted that four separate agencies — his office, St. Paul police, the city's public health department and the county's medical examiner office — all conducted probes or inquiries and found no wrongdoing on behalf of the jail.

"We welcome any additional investigation,'' he said.

Rubén Rosario can be reached at rrosario@pioneerpress.com or 651-228-5454.






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© 2006 St. Paul Pioneer Press and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.twincities.com

Oh great! Another "unknown parasitic disease"! We will probably never hear what this woman had! The CDC is worthless!


(At the hospital, Merchan, a restaurant worker, was diagnosed as suffering from a pre-existing and previously unknown parasitic disease that deprived her brain of oxygen)