tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post6796708118214155513..comments2024-03-15T05:45:01.402-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: On reentry, healthcare, privatization, sheep and goatsGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-84320829889368704902011-06-16T20:15:54.022-05:002011-06-16T20:15:54.022-05:00HIV, your levels are lower on medication which red...HIV, your levels are lower on medication which reduces the amt. of virus currently in your bloodstream. yes you are still HIV +. It's not just HIV offender who stop treatment once out. Other offenders such as diabetes, high blood pressure etc. once they get out they are not taking care of themselves and get sicker or even die within 1 yr.Nurseypoohnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-61421864803004318652011-06-16T20:01:44.547-05:002011-06-16T20:01:44.547-05:00Just curious: How does the interruption of meds in...Just curious: How does the interruption of meds increase the risk of transmission? You are still HIV + with or without medication, aren't you?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-35053608381484164062011-06-16T18:30:47.934-05:002011-06-16T18:30:47.934-05:00Town hall meeting today. Major cuts for UTMB! If s...Town hall meeting today. Major cuts for UTMB! If some of you thought TDCJ/UTMB healthcare was bad just wait it's going to get a lot worse! They are only alotting $7.75 per day per offender. <br />165 positions will be eliminated, pink slips go out 6-29-11.Nurseypoohnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-20818328507305901372011-06-14T06:43:52.551-05:002011-06-14T06:43:52.551-05:00MailDeadDrop, the King James Version says "vi...MailDeadDrop, the King James Version says "visit." Other translations, like <a href="I%20was%20sick%20and%20in%20prison%20and%20you%20did%20not%20look%20after%20me" rel="nofollow">the New International Version</a>, characterize it more broadly, e.g., "I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me." Not knowing ancient Greek, I can't say for sure which more accurately reflects the original. But I'll bet Mr. Lane and the folks he quotes don't make a lot of prison visits, either.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-10708426304908907622011-06-14T05:28:16.303-05:002011-06-14T05:28:16.303-05:00UTMB town hall meeting this week!
Prison doc do y...UTMB town hall meeting this week!<br /><br />Prison doc do you have any clue what the agenda will be! They haven't released it yet and probably won't until afterward.Nurseypoohnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-5002649327720180002011-06-13T23:11:32.730-05:002011-06-13T23:11:32.730-05:00Follow-up: according to the Scripture you cite, th...Follow-up: according to the Scripture you cite, the righteous need only visit the sick in prison, not provide healthcare. Any bets whether that requirement would be satisfactory for the Wichita lawyer and his ilk?MailDeadDrophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09786476689141754488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-53551978016791015352011-06-13T23:07:04.400-05:002011-06-13T23:07:04.400-05:00Perhaps folks believe that if the State has exerci...Perhaps folks believe that if the State has exercised the power to restrict their (the convicts') freedom, then the State also can and should restrict their other liberties, such as access to taxpayer-funded healthcare and security. I'm neither advocating that position nor justifying it, merely hypothesizing about the underlying mental models of those apparently advocating such as the Wichita Falls lawyer. But I must confess that the idea that a convict should be "rewarded" for their offense with taxpayer-funded perks like healthcare is galling.MailDeadDrophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09786476689141754488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-58504123601069214532011-06-13T12:18:30.641-05:002011-06-13T12:18:30.641-05:00Scott, thanks, but if it's all the same to you...Scott, thanks, but if it's all the same to you, I won't read that prosecutor's forum post. I used to read it all the time, but kept getting nauseous when I read it. "chomping at the bit when it comes to enhancing cases" sounds like one of those things that probably caused the nausea. :)Donhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16902834245861000386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-87162473843726760282011-06-13T12:13:08.449-05:002011-06-13T12:13:08.449-05:00Prison Doc: You are welcome. But I like this blo...Prison Doc: You are welcome. But I like this blog partially because it doesn't let a lot of non-facts go unchallenged. Anyway, I figured you knew the difference; my purpose was to keep someone who didn't know from getting it wrong.Donhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16902834245861000386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-20694789036713380892011-06-13T11:57:52.035-05:002011-06-13T11:57:52.035-05:00I may be a doctor, but I'm not totally stupid....I may be a doctor, but I'm not totally stupid...even I knew that a first or second DWI wouldn't get you 20 years...but Don I appreciate you and Grits supplying the FACTS which are often a scarce commodity in the blogosphere!Prison Dochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03651611135066437902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-40881122526052260572011-06-13T11:44:00.049-05:002011-06-13T11:44:00.049-05:00You're right, Don, my bad. I doublechecked and...You're right, Don, my bad. I doublechecked and the "life" cases I was thinking of bumped up the charges using the habitual offender statutes. See, for example, the discussion here from the prosecutors user forum. On that string one ADA declared "I tend to chomp at the bit when it comes to enhancing cases," so they give each other advice on how to get creative to get super-long senteces. It's pretty common to see sentences longer than 20 years for multiple DWIs, as indicated by several ADA commenters there.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-21751418482627577112011-06-13T11:00:35.087-05:002011-06-13T11:00:35.087-05:00"Texas law does not provide for any increased..."Texas law does not provide for any increased punishment after DWI, third offense. If a person presents a DWI, fourth offense or beyond, the typical punishment is confinement in the penitentiary from two (2) to ten (10) years without probation being granted. In some cases SAFP may be granted upon proper request and showing that it is appropriate." From DWI.com, a DWI Attorney site. Sec 49.09 of the Penal Code: "(b-1) An offense under Section 49.07 is a felony of the second degree if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the person caused serious bodily injury to a peace officer, a firefighter, or emergency medical services personnel while in the actual discharge of an official duty.<br /><br />(b-2) An offense under Section 49.08 is a felony of the first degree if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the person caused the death of a person described by Subsection (b-1).<br /><br />(b-3) For the purposes of Subsection (b-1):<br /><br />(1) "Emergency medical services personnel" has the meaning assigned by Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code.<br /><br />Can't find anything supporting what you're saying. Doesn't mean it doesn't exist. :)Donhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16902834245861000386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-3115307173048786462011-06-13T10:43:25.320-05:002011-06-13T10:43:25.320-05:00They have to get a "habitual criminal" e...They have to get a "habitual criminal" enhancement. Not in the statutes as written, for DWI. Anyway, thanks for the heads-up, but my point to Prison Doc remains.Donhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16902834245861000386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-45096153314211401312011-06-13T10:25:54.785-05:002011-06-13T10:25:54.785-05:00"The only way a DWI can get 20 years is Intox..."The only way a DWI can get 20 years is Intoxication Manslaughter."<br /><br />Not entirely accurate, Don. As I understand it they can also get that much time for four or more DWIs, which kicks it up to a 2nd degree felony, or 2-20 years. I've seen life (or 99 year) sentences for multiple DWIs with no intoxication manslaughter charges.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-64664708598710292392011-06-13T10:13:51.349-05:002011-06-13T10:13:51.349-05:00Prison Doc: I understand what you are getting at,...Prison Doc: I understand what you are getting at, but hyperbolic statements like this don't help our message. Your patient wasn't serving 20 years for "A DUI." Perhaps he was serving 20 for a Whole Bunch of dWi's. (there is no such thing as a DUI in Texas, except as a minor.) A (one) DWI is a class B misdemeanor that nobody goes to prison for. Even a 3rd offense felony only gets maximum of 10, and rarely does that happen. The only way a DWI can get 20 years is Intoxication Manslaughter. Don't mean to be picky, but these things are important. A lot of people who do not know better would think you could get 20 years in prison for a single DWI. (not DUI)Donhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16902834245861000386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-21689428497064226262011-06-13T08:47:32.886-05:002011-06-13T08:47:32.886-05:00I'm never surprised at the callousness of the ...I'm never surprised at the callousness of the so-called "christian" citizens of the state of Texas. They are appalled that their tax dollars go to pay for health care for people who are essentially wards of the State. Maybe it's time for all the hardcore "law n order" Texans to start realizing the financial repercussions of their "lock'em up and throw away the key" policies. There's a cost for such callousness. Change the system or shut the hell up.Charlie Onoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-8038013276275293262011-06-13T05:49:51.530-05:002011-06-13T05:49:51.530-05:00I agree that the $ 100 co pay is going to increase...I agree that the $ 100 co pay is going to increase demand for healthcare services on a system that is already overwhelmed.It is a bad idea. They should stick to the $ 3 copay system, or increase it to $ 5. We in healthcare are<br />already seeing more patients because the inmates realize change is coming, and it is over menial problems they would ignore outside.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-4426654240411710972011-06-12T20:57:39.484-05:002011-06-12T20:57:39.484-05:00I work in the medical part of the correctional sys...I work in the medical part of the correctional system. The change from $ 3 co-pay to a $100/yr payment for all offenders <br /><br />(except indigent) will perhaps create a new demand with medical services. I see this as a monetary item number game with <br /><br />the legislature (160,000 x $ 100 = $ 16 million). What may happen, is those who have never used medical services may <br /><br />feel the need to now use the system, since they are paying for it. Hence, placing more demand on a system that is being <br /><br />reduced in manpower.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-35946346753031152922011-06-12T13:27:12.919-05:002011-06-12T13:27:12.919-05:00First and foremost, welcome back Grits! We missed ...First and foremost, welcome back Grits! We missed you!<br />Also, a libertarian friend of mine echoed your sentiments at the end of the blog a while back...he and I were discussing the (many) flaws in the TDCJ and county systems and he said, "When you take away someone's liberty, you are then responsible for their safety." Sometimes I wonder if the people making decisions for TDCJ and county systems realize or care about that...if they don't want that responsibility, like you and Prison Doc said, they should either lock fewer people up for less time. Alas, that would make too much sense...S and Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-43134287169826372042011-06-12T13:18:45.143-05:002011-06-12T13:18:45.143-05:00Welcome back. I didn't realize what a big par...Welcome back. I didn't realize what a big part of my daily reading this blog is.<br /><br />Don't get so excited about Mr. Lane's unusually ignorant column, at least he isn't "anonymous".<br /><br />Regarding the TDCJ medical changes, at this writing it's safe to say that no medical providers or nurses in the rank-and-file know ANYTHING about what is going on, and all are waiting with bated breath to hear something.<br /><br />Like your conclusion points out, the obvious answer is to lock up fewer folks for less time. Got a new patient in the other day with enormously high chronic medical expenses, serving 20 years for a DUI. The beat goes on.Prison Dochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03651611135066437902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-74674133384375694982011-06-12T13:04:34.252-05:002011-06-12T13:04:34.252-05:00Hope you had a great time. Missed you and glad yo...Hope you had a great time. Missed you and glad your back. Maybe you should take more vacations so we can appreciate you more. Thanks from a devoted reader.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-38825432553465988312011-06-12T11:21:01.644-05:002011-06-12T11:21:01.644-05:00Amen!! Welcome back, Scott.Amen!! Welcome back, Scott.Donhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16902834245861000386noreply@blogger.com