February 24

Today I put in a request to talk to Verna about the book policy with an implied threat that I might write letters to the government.  I was questioned about by Sharkey who then passed it on to [Counselor], whom I have yet to hear from.  This time I’m not giving up until I get my books.

I also had a minor argument with the nurse about getting glasses.  I expect that either the jail or welfare should pay for them since I am a ward of the government but, of course, she disagrees.  Bitch.  I’ll pursue this matter with [Counselor].

And I wrote to Anne.  I hope my letter will prompt her to write back.  I’d really like to hear from her again.

Gerard??? is out of province for 2 weeks, so there’s no hope of getting the parole until he gets back.  I fear that it’s getting late for the April hearing.  The next won’t be ‘till July.

Arrangements made to get drugs in on the weekend.  Hope all goes well.  Relief from boredom needed.

AA tonight – rather boring, but had some laughs with Dwayne.  Next meeting I will be Chairman or Secretary.  I wrote a letter to the Nova Scotia Minister of Justice for David (he asked for help) about getting transferred to Halifax jail.  He was pleased with the letter; I think that I write a good letter.  This talent may be of use to me in the future.

And I heard from Holland Cottage that I’m scheduled for an interview next month, so I will be getting out for a few hours at least.  Well, the guys are watching porno on the French channel – think I’ll join them.

February 25

Its been a pleasant day here for me.  I got called out to the office to talk to [Counselor] about the book policy and the eye thing.  I didn’t really get anywhere, but I had fun arguing with her.  She got all flustered and angry at me.  I won’t be getting any favors from her in the future, but it was all the worthwhile just to see her react like she did.

So, we started another letter writing campaign today.  I wrote to the Nurses Union, Mildred D., Pat M., the Human Rights Commission, and the Director of Corrections and tomorrow I plan to write to the Minister of Justice and possibly Education.  I enjoy getting things stirred. The policies I’m arguing against are illogical and I feel I have nothing to lose by complaining.  Now I can sit back and wait for results.

My mother was here today too, unexpected.  She’s going to Toronto next week and we asked her to call some treatment centres and also to call Anne.  I hope she’ll return with some useful information maybe things are going to work out after all.  Yeah.  I should be getting an interview with both Ch’town and Summerside detoxes tomorrow as it is the last working day of the month.  By the end of next week, I should have a good understanding of what my options are.

Looking forward to a quiet peaceful weekend here with a remote possibility of some drugs.

Letter to the Nurses Association

R. MacDonald

Box 2710
Ch’town, PEI
C1A 8C3

Feb. 25, 1999

Dear Sir/Madam:

I am an inmate of the Provincial Correctional Center and I would like to bring to your attention an incident, or series of incidents involving myself and the nurse, xxx.

I am serving a sentence of two years less a day for a drug offence.  I am recovering from an extended period of drug addiction and have been diagnosed, by Dr. Marjorie Smith, with clinical depression and generalized anxiety disorder.  I have been prescribed Paxil, Busparone, Inderol and Atarax to be taken daily until, as I understand it, it is determined by Dr. Smith that they be discontinued.

On Jan. 3, I was put in solitary confinement for a period of two days.  I felt that, under the circumstances, this punishment was not justified.  As a form of protest, I refused to take my medication until I was released. I was asked to sign a paper confirming that I had refused my medication, which I signed fearing that refusing to do so would lead to further confinement or loss of privileges.

After my release, I asked that my medication be given to me (on Jan. 6).  I was told that this would not be allowed until the doctor (Dr. Lantz) was able to see me for a re-diagnosis.  Ten days later.  During this ten day period, I noticed the return of my symptoms of my illness.  I expressed my concern about this to Nurse xxx and other staff members but was told that there was nothing that could or would be done for me.

On Jan. 13, I spoke with Nurse xxx and was told that because I had signed the paper, she was entitled to withhold my medication.  I disagreed on the basis that when I was asked to sign the paper, I was not made aware that there would be such consequences.  I fully expected to receive my medication upon my release from confinement.  (During our conversation it seemed obvious to me that she more concerned with possible liability toward herself than with my well-being).

During the period that I was denied my medication I contacted my lawyer, Thane M,, to see if he could assist me in this matter.  He related to me that he was told by the nurse here that the reason I was not receiving my medication was because I had refused to give a urine sample.  This was completely false.  I had not been asked for a urine sample in the weeks preceeding this incident.

Furthermore, when I have been asked for a sample, I have always complied. When I was able to see Dr. Lantz the following week, he stated to me that he had been told that I had tested positive for drugs.  This too was false.  I had given a sample the day before my appointment with Dr. Lantz. At the time of the appointment, I believe that the results had not come back yet (it was negative) and Nurse xxx told him that it was positive, hoping and expecting that it would be positive.  This disturbs me because I have been involved in treatment for my addiction throughout the past year and I resent the implication, the spreading of false information by a medical professional, that I am again using drugs.  Considering my past, this would be very easy to believe but it was a lie.

I feel that Nurse xxx’s behavior was although possibly legal, highly unethical.  I believe she operated outside of her boundaries as a health care professional, and I find her attitude of professional arrogance to be quite disturbing.

I have been unable to access information regarding the policies and regulations of the jail regarding the rights of the inmate and obligations of the medical staff but I strongly suspect that my rights have been violated.

I feel it would be appropriate if some sort of disciplinary action were to be taken against Nurse xx to prevent a re-occurrence of this sort of incident in the future.

I would also like to make you aware of the fact on most evenings and weekends our medication is given out by guards.  This seems … inappropriate.  I wonder if we are supposed to accept a lower standard of health care because we are “just prisoners”.  The part time nurses (Jennifer and Sherri) are helpful and pleasant to deal with bu I question whether Nurse xxx’s behavior would be acceptable in any other health care setting. Thanks for your time.

Sincerely,

Reg MacDonald