Man Died of Neglect, Inmates Say

Man Died of Neglect, Inmates Say

By Mark Arax Times Staff Writer

FRESNO — For two months, guards and medical staff at a state prison in Corcoran failed to provide meals or emergency care to an elderly inmate dying of malnutrition, according to inmate accounts given to a state senator.

In the days before 72-year-old Khem Singh starved to death at the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility last month, fellow inmates said, they alerted correctional officers to his grave condition and filed official complaints about his mistreatment.

But no medical help was provided, even as it became clear to inmates that Singh, a Sikh priest from India who spoke no English and was crippled, had become emaciated and was intent on killing himself.

One inmate wrote a letter to state Sen. Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles) pleading that she intervene, but it arrived a few days after Singh's death Feb. 16. The inmate alleged that a guard had brutalized Singh in December, and that Singh was so afraid of a second assault that he hadn't left his cell for meals or medical appointments for nearly 60 days.

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Our prison system is too easily corruptable, but I can't think of a solution.

because I couldn't stay close-mouthed any longer about where they were wasting millions due to their inefficient health care delivery system. The people with the good ideas were ignored. At that time, my opinion of most of the medical staff at SATF was that they were dedicated and did the best with what they had.