BELLINGHAM, Wash. — A civil suit was filed in Whatcom County Superior Court on November 21st by a former Whatcom County Jail inmate. Whatcom County, Northwest Regional Council (NWRC), an advanced registered nurse practitioner employed by the county and a registered nurse (RN) employed by NWRC, are listed as defendants.
According to the complaint filed with the court, the inmate was arrested and taken into custody at the jail on September 27, 2021. He reportedly made several requests for medical attention between October 4, 2021, and December 5th, 2021, due to persistent lesions and a rash on his calf along with aches and other symptoms. These medical requests reportedly did not result in examinations or recommendations to be seen by a physician.
On December 7, 2021, the former inmate requested medical attention noting “My inner thigh on upper left leg is twice the size as my right.” He added he was in extreme pain. An examination resulted and he was sent to PeaceHealth St Joseph Medical Center’s emergency department. He underwent a leg amputation 2 days later.
The complaint says the staff breached their duty of care when they failed to send the former inmate to the hospital for treatment sooner than they did. He also claims the County and NWRC “employs RNs and other non-practitioners to engage in the practice of medicine despite their lack of training and qualifications.”
The defendants have yet to submit answers to the complaint.
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