Should We Pay for Inmate's Cancer Treatments?

[public servant]

There is a lot of misinformation about prisons and inmates floating through the minds of INGO folk. Maybe its just general public stuff, but wow....

Explain, please?

 

[ATOMonkey]

I think a lot of you people that keep spewing the word "rehabilitation" need to spend some time getting to know the type of people who inhabit prisons.

There's always an exception though. I know of at least one.

Seems a shame that a wrongfully convicted man should be lumped in with the rest.

 

[bigg cheese]

Where I work, we have "good behavior" inmates get to be outside because they're doing landscaping. That's rehab in my opinion. Teaching them a skill while providing us with free labor.

no one says we have to make lawyers and doctors out of them. We don't have to provide them with upper level education that they can get.

 

[BBill]

Didn't the "President" say-take a pill or something?

 

[public servant]

There's always an exception though. I know of at least one.

Seems a shame that a wrongfully convicted man should be lumped in with the rest.

Oh...I agree. There is always an exception.

And for the record I've interacted with thousands of convicts. I've yet to meet any but a very small handful that were actually guilty...according to them.

 

[BBill]

Murderer, Rapist, Child Molester- I think that says it all doesn't it??

 

[Palarran]

I have spent a moderate amount of time in prisons, and I do know that many of the offenders are hopeless. But I agree with goinggreyfast in message #20 (we've probably worked in the same ministry, it sounds like), in that you can't know who'll be able to take the opportunities given and turn their lives around.

Most all of the men in prison have, one time or another, turned themselves into scum. Some have been told their entire lives that they are nothing but scum, and they wholly believe it. Some are sincerely trying to change for the better, others are making a show of it for the parole board and not really changing anything. But be that as it may, and whether we like it or not, they're all still citizens protected by the constitution and laws just like we are.

 

[brutalone]

There is a man (forget his name) that was convicted and confessed to rape, abduction, drug dealing, running a sex slave ring, and murder...... who also had killed at least 2 fellow inmates.... Double life sentence with no chance of parole....Yet he received a kidney transplant on the tax payers dime......
of course this was in The Soviet Socialist Republic of Kalifornia.....

 

[NYFelon]

Public Servant, I think I'm familiar with the types of people to be found in prisons. Yes, the majority of people I encountered, I probably wouldn't pee on them to put them out. None of that changes them into something other than human beings though. If you legally take custody of another life, are you not then responsible for that life? Why is the state not subject to the same rule?

 

[public servant]

There is a man (forget his name) that was convicted and confessed to rape, abduction, drug dealing, running a sex slave ring, and murder...... who also had killed at least 2 fellow inmates.... Double life sentence with no chance of parole....Yet he received a kidney transplant on the tax payers dime......

Because some dumbass somewhere believes he can be "rehabilitated".

 

[public servant]

Public Servant, I think I'm familiar with the types of people to be found in prisons. Yes, the majority of people I encountered, I probably wouldn't pee on them to put them out. None of that changes them into something other than human beings though. If you legally take custody of another life, are you not then responsible for that life? Why is the state not subject to the same rule?

The definition of "human being" we both have apparently differs.

But in fairness...I understand that as a society we have responsibilities for the care of these convicts...whether we like it or not.

 

[NYFelon]

The definition of "human being" we both have apparently differs.

But in fairness...I understand that as a society we have responsibilities for the care of these convicts...whether we like it or not.

Fair enough sir. Even I was taken aback by the instance of a multiple murderer with no chance of parole receiving a kidney transplant. My god, if I had that much time in front of I wouldn't want it. If I know I'm not getting out except feet first.........the quicker the better. My year was almost more than I could tolerate. Knowing that I would never, ever see the light of day that wasn't filtered by bars or barbed wire? Screw that.

 

[Palarran]

I agree that the "gentleman" who received the kidney transplant is highly distasteful. But I think as a matter of law, if he wanted to receive a necessary lifesaving treatment, and made it to the top of the prescribed waiting list for the organs, I think the state is bound to give him the transplant. I don't like it, but hard cases make bad law.

 

[bigg cheese]

@NYFelon:

Since I said that inmates get cable TV, access to gov't provided exercise equipment, time outside, libraries, internet, college education, conjugal visits, etc.

What about removing those luxuries that I would go without if I didn't have money is dehumanizing?

Or are you referring to some other thing that you experienced/saw that I didn't mention?

 

[brutalone]

I agree that the "gentleman" who received the kidney transplant is highly distasteful. But I think as a matter of law, if he wanted to receive a necessary lifesaving treatment, and made it to the top of the prescribed waiting list for the organs, I think the state is bound to give him the transplant. I don't like it, but hard cases make bad law.

He was most likely pushed along the list to avoid lawsuit and bleeding heart protests if he died while in prison for life....
And potentially caused the death of yet another who will not receive the kidney.....
Millions of dollars spent on people like this.... in a bankrupt state......
Where do we draw that line.....?

 

[Shelly1582]

I often wonder about the "Kill em all" mentality myself. It is more conducive to an authoritarian state than a free society.

Not kill em all. But there are some I certainly wouldn't shed a tear for. But I am not in charge and don't make the rules so I just get to make myself aware of the child molesters running around town having only ever served probation and paid a fine, and protect my own.

 

[Roadie]

Not that I like quoting myself, but it occurs to me that the lowest in our country have become illegal immigrants. Their abuse and torture, described below, is a reflection on us as a nation:

Report alleges Border Patrol abuse of illegal immigrants | Reuters

We have denied medical treatment to prisoners. You can read about one particular case here. A computer engineer overstays his visa, and guess what happens. He gets to die in jail because the jailers wouldn't take him to the doctor.

Detention Center Facing Inquiry Will Get No More Immigrant Detainees - NYTimes.com
U.S. Issues Scathing Report on Immigrant Who Died in Detention - NYTimes.com

I can't find this other case I'd read about where a man with a pending immigration appeal was jailed for his immigration status. He owned a company, and had health insurance. The private immigration jail that held him refused to let him have medical treatment that he'd pay for himself. He eventually died from cancer.

Is this what we want?

Da Bing

Somehow I dont think Mandela was talking about rapists, murderers and child molesters..

 

[henktermaat]

No.

No to socialism in all it's forms.

 

[badwolf.usmc]

Yes, but under Obamacare it shouldn't be an issue since everyone will have to have medical insurance anyway. Make them work for medical coverage and extra money.

 

[goinggreyfast]

"Kill em all?" Certainly not! Just those who are guilty of capitol crimes. Murder, Rape and child molesting should fall into that category, though the courts have decided the raping a woman or a child is no longer grounds for capital punishment. Sad, very sad!

Interesting... And for that man I mentioned in Post #20 who is in for murdering the man who brutally beat and raped his daughter? I know of another man who had the exact same thing happen to his daughter. He and the man in prison are friends now. The man on the outside looked at the man on the inside during a talk and said, "The only difference between you and me was I didn't have a gun."

I think a lot of you people that keep spewing the word "rehabilitation" need to spend some time getting to know the type of people who inhabit prisons.

Agreed! A lot of them do not have a clue, but I work with them on a regular basis and I will say it again; "There is no such thing as a throw away person"

Murderer, Rapist, Child Molester- I think that says it all doesn't it??

Yep, sure does! Nobody EVER changes in prison, do they?

I have spent a moderate amount of time in prisons, and I do know that many of the offenders are hopeless. But I agree with goinggreyfast in message #20 (we've probably worked in the same ministry, it sounds like), in that you can't know who'll be able to take the opportunities given and turn their lives around.

Most all of the men in prison have, one time or another, turned themselves into scum. Some have been told their entire lives that they are nothing but scum, and they wholly believe it. Some are sincerely trying to change for the better, others are making a show of it for the parole board and not really changing anything. But be that as it may, and whether we like it or not, they're all still citizens protected by the constitution and laws just like we are.

@NYFelon:

Since I said that inmates get cable TV, access to gov't provided exercise equipment, time outside, libraries, internet, college education, conjugal visits, etc.

What about removing those luxuries that I would go without if I didn't have money is dehumanizing?

Or are you referring to some other thing that you experienced/saw that I didn't mention?

What does that have to do with basic life sustaining treatment? Do away with those luxuries and have them spend more time doing something productive? I'm all for that!