Opinion ID: 2717749
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Nurse Shilling

Text: Shilling was more involved in Warren’s medical care than the above defendants. On January 16, 2010, Shilling learned that Warren complained of chest pain. Shilling spoke with Warren, and her notes reflect that Warren “state[d] he feels like he is about to have a heart attack, can he please see the doctor.” Warren denied currently experiencing pain. Shilling scheduled Warren to see a doctor, and Warren saw Dr. Bomber on January 18. Shilling evaluated Warren again on January 29. Shilling stated in her deposition that because the computer system was down, she would not have been familiar with Warren’s medical history unless Warren had told it to her. Warren reported his symptoms at this time differently than he had done in the past. He told Shilling that he “woke up with this sharp, tightness, achiness in the center of my chest.” Although Warren did not experience pain at the moment of the evaluation, he was experiencing chest pain just ten minutes prior. 11 It is unclear whether Warren, in fact, took a dose of nitroglycerin on January 28. Pope’s medical notes state: “[patient] to begin Nitro,” suggesting that Warren did not take the nitroglycerin in front of Pope (emphasis added). On January 29, Warren told Shilling: “They gave me some Nitro to take[,] but I haven’t taken any yet.” 20 Viewing the facts in the light most favorable to Ms. Warren, a reasonable juror could conclude that Shilling actually knew that Warren had a life-threatening medical need. Shilling knew that Warren experienced acute chest pain in the prior few minutes. She described Warren’s pain as “com[ing] and go[ing] throughout the day.” Shilling knew that Warren was not taking necessary medication. See Estate of Carter, 408 F.3d at 312 (officer believed that detainee “had not taken her heart medication for three days”). Shilling stated in her deposition that she is aware that a patient currently experiencing symptoms of chest pain and shortness of breath “would be emergent.” According to the purported prison policies submitted as evidence by Ms. Warren, an emergent condition is “life-threatening” and “may result in death.” Although Shilling stated that she considered Warren’s condition to be urgent and not emergent on January 29, “a jury would be entitled to discount that explanation.” Id. at 313. Shilling also stated—in tension with her prior statement in her deposition—that she may have been familiar with Warren’s medical history when she saw him on January 29.12 This evidence, direct and circumstantial—though admittedly susceptible to multiple interpretations—is sufficient to satisfy the subjective requirement. Additionally, there is evidence that Shilling disregarded a substantial risk of harm to Warren by failing to send him to the hospital, as she was authorized to do.