Source: https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2004/aug/15/mentally-ill-texas-prisoner-not-entitled-to-hepatitis-treatment/
Timestamp: 2020-07-05 05:59:36
Document Index: 656960347

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 1915', '§ 636', '§ 1915', '§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 1983', 'art, 174']

Mentally Ill Texas Prisoner Not Entitled to Hepatitis Treatment | Prison Legal News
In this unpublished decision by a three judge panel, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals held on March 19, 2004, that the failure of Texas prison officials to treat a mentally ill prisoner's hepatitis B and C with interferon therapy did not constitute deliberate indifference nor did it violate the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).
Jimmy Roy Davidson, a Texas state prisoner who suffers from an unspecified psychiatric disorder, brought a pro se 42 U.S.C. § 1983 civil rights action against the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division (TDCJ-ID), its medical contractors and various medical personnel, alleging that their refusal to treat his hepatitis B and C with interferon therapy violated his constitutional rights.
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas dismissed Davidson's claim as frivolous and he appealed. The Fifth Circuit affirmed.
According to the Fifth Circuit, "Prison officials violate the constitutional proscription against cruel and unusual punishment when they are deliberately indifferent to a prisoner's serious medical needs...." To support a claim of deliberate indifference a prisoner must show that "prison officials refused to treat him, ignored his complaints, intentionally treated him incorrectly, or engaged in any similar conduct that would clearly evince a wanton disregard for any serious medical needs."
In light of this definition, the court determined that Davidson had not shown deliberate indifference for the following reasons. First, although Davidson cited authorities who recommend interferon therapy for those with psychiatric disorders, provided certain safeguards are taken, Davidson's occasionally elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) readings alone did not warrant such "extraordinary medical intervention." Second, Davidson's argument that a Dr. Revell should have referred him for a liver biopsy was negated by the fact that his ALTs were approximately normal when he was transferred from Dr. Revell's unit in April 2002. Third, TDCJ-ID Policy B-14.13 provides that "[s]evere depression or other active neuro-psychiatric disorder is classified as an `absolute contraindication' to therapy." Davidson's contention that prison doctors should have referred him to a psychiatrist to determine if his mental illness was "severe" or "active," even if proven true, would merely constitute "malpractice or negligence, which are not actionable under § 1983."
As to the ADA claim, Davidson argued that prison officials violated Policy B-14.13 "by not providing qualified personnel to determine the degree of severity or activeness of his mental illness and by not providing him with controlled trials of medication with interferon." The court held however, that Davidson's ADA claim was meritless because he did not allege or show that "he was adversely treated solely because of his handicap of mental illness." The court, with a straight face, imposes highly complex legal and medical requirements on mentally ill prisoners proceeding pro se without counsel and an unknown level of education. See: Davidson v. Texas Department Of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division, 5th Cir., Case No. 03-41185.
Davidson v. TDCJ, Inst. Div.
5th Cir. Case No. 03-41185
91 Fed.Appx. 963, 27 NDLR P 279
Please use FIND to look at the applicable circuit court rule before citing this opinion. Fifth Circuit Rule 47.5.4. (FIND CTA5 Rule 47.)
Jimmy Roy DAVIDSON, Plaintiff-Appellant,
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, INSTITUTIONAL DIVISION; Texas Tech
Health Science Center; the University of Texas Medical Branch; Tim Revell;
Unknown Crawford, Dr.; Unknown Clayton, Dr.; Pat Harrison; Unidentified
Party, Step Two Grievance Official; M. Kelly, Dr., Defendants-Appellees.
No. 03-41185
Background: State inmate filed § 1983 action alleging that prison officials
violated his constitutional rights and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by refusing to treat his hepatitis B and C by medicating him with interferon. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas dismissed complaint as frivolous, and inmate appealed.
(1) officials' refusal to medicate inmate with interferon did not violate Eighth Amendment, and
(2) officials did not violate ADA as result of their refusal to administer interferon.
*964 Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. (No. 6:03-CV-62).
Jimmy Roy Davidson, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division Beto Unit, Tennessee Colony, TX, pro se.
PER CURIAM: [FN*]
Plaintiff-Appellant Jimmy Roy Davidson, Texas state prisoner #612588, appeals the magistrate judge's dismissal of his pro se civil rights action as frivolous. [FN1] See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1). Davidson's principal contention is that the defendants-appellees violated his constitutional rights in refusing to treat his hepatitis B and C by medicating him with interferon. We affirm.
FN1. The parties consented to proceed before the magistrate judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c). The magistrate judge also held that dismissal was justified because Davidson failed to exhaust his administrative remedies, a ruling that we need not examine.
Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1), a district court may dismiss an IFP complaint as frivolous or for failure to state a claim. A complaint is frivolous if it lacks an arguable basis in either law or fact. Siglar v. Hightower, 112 F.3d 191, 193 (5th Cir.1997).
Prison officials violate the constitutional proscription against cruel and unusual punishment when they are deliberately indifferent to a prisoner's serious medical needs, as doing so constitutes unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain. Wilson v. Seiter, 501 U.S. 294, 297, 111 S.Ct. 2321, 115 L.Ed.2d 271 (1991). To prevail on such a claim, a plaintiff "must allege acts or omissions sufficiently harmful to evidence deliberate indifference to serious medical needs." Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 106, 97 S.Ct. 285, 50 L.Ed.2d 251 (1976). Deliberate indifference encompasses only unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain repugnant to the conscience of mankind. Id. at 105-06. "The legal conclusion of 'deliberate indifference[ ]' ... must rest on facts clearly evincing 'wanton' actions on the part of the defendants." Johnson v. Treen, 759 F.2d 1236, 1238 (5th Cir.1985).
*965 A showing of deliberate indifference requires the inmate to submit evidence that prison officials " 'refused to treat him, ignored his complaints, intentionally treated him incorrectly, or engaged in any similar conduct that would clearly evince a wanton disregard for any serious medical needs.' " Domino v. Texas Dep't of Criminal Justice, 239 F.3d 752, 756 (5th Cir.2001) (quoting Johnson, 759 F.2d at 1238). Unsuccessful medical treatment, ordinary acts of negligence, or medical malpractice do not constitute a cause of action under § 1983. Stewart v. Murphy, 174 F.3d 530, 534 (5th Cir.1999). Absent exceptional circumstances, a prisoner's disagreement with his medical treatment is not actionable under § 1983. Banuelos v. McFarland, 41 F.3d 232, 235 (5th Cir.1995).
Davidson supports his claim of entitlement to relief by referring to authorities who advocate interferon therapy for persons with psychiatric disorders by use of controlled trials, nocturnal administration, dosage reduction, biweekly psychiatric checkups, and psychoactive drugs. Other than the fact that on occasion his alanine aminotransferase (ALT) readings have been somewhat elevated, however, Davidson has not shown any basis for concluding that his hepatitis is or has been severe enough to mandate such extraordinary medical intervention.
Davidson faults appellee Dr. Revell for not having referred him for determination of the degree of his liver inflammation, fibrosis, or cirrhosis, as to which several authorities recommend a biopsy. Davidson's ALTs were approximately normal as of April 2002, however, when he was transferred from Dr. Revell's unit.
Davidson recognizes that, as the magistrate judge observed, TDCJ-ID Policy B-14.13 provides that "[s]evere depression or other active neuropsychiatric disorder is classified as an 'absolute contraindication' to interferon therapy." Davidson nevertheless argues that appellees Dr. Crawford and Dr. Clayton should have referred him to a psychiatrist to determine whether severe depression or some other active psychiatric syndrome made him ineligible for such treatment. Even if these allegations proved true, however, these psychiatrists' acts or omissions would amount to nothing more than malpractice or negligence, which are not actionable under § 1983. See Stewart, 174 F.3d at 534. Thus, the magistrate judge did not err in concluding that Davidson failed to show that the denial of interferon therapy amounted to "deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs," as such denial was done in compliance with generally accepted medical standards.
Davidson also contends that the magistrate judge erred by dismissing his claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). He argues that he is disabled by mental illness and that unspecified appellees violated Policy B-14.13 by not providing qualified personnel to determine the degree of severity or activeness of his mental illness and by not providing him with controlled trials of medication with interferon.
Davidson's ADA claim lacks merit because he has not alleged or shown that he was adversely treated solely because of his handicap of mental illness. See Judice v. Hosp. Serv. Dist. No. 1, 919 F.Supp. 978, 981 (E.D.La.1996). As the magistrate judge concluded, "[t]he refusal to administer drugs which are medically contraindicated by a medical disorder does not constitute 'discrimination' because of this disorder; rather, such refusal is proper and responsible medical conduct."
Davidson asserts further that he is entitled to relief because the magistrate judge *966 denied his motion for appointment of counsel. The magistrate judge denied the motion prior to the district judge's authorization for further proceedings to be conducted by the magistrate judge, subject to later appointment of counsel if necessary. Davidson did not, however, appeal the magistrate judge's ruling or again request that counsel be appointed. Accordingly, we lack jurisdiction to review this denial of Davidson's motion for appointment of counsel. See Colburn v. Bunge Towing, Inc., 883 F.2d 372, 379 (5th Cir.1989).
Davidson has filed a motion requesting that we grant a mandatory injunction directing the appellees to administer interferon to him immediately. He argues that his life is in danger because he has both hepatitis B and hepatitis C. As Davidson is not likely to prevail on the merits of his claims he is not entitled to such relief at the appellate level. See Libertarian Party of Texas v. Fainter, 741 F.2d 728, 729 (5th Cir.1984).
Davidson also seeks leave to amend his motion for injunctive relief to include a request that we order his transfer to federal protective custody for service of the remainder of his sentence. He assert that the appellees may cause his death to avoid monetary liability and public exposure. This motion is denied as frivolous.
In addition, Davidson seeks authority to supplement the appellate record. The motion is denied because Davidson has not shown that the additional documents are necessary to the proper disposition of his appeal. See Harvey v. Andrist, 754 F.2d 569, 571 (5th Cir.1985).
Finally, we deny Davidson's motion for leave to file a supplemental or letter brief. See 5TH CIR. R. 28.5.
AFFIRMED; ALL OUTSTANDING MOTIONS DENIED.