Opinion ID: 160813
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Medical Care

Text: 4 Mr. McBride's first argument is that defendant Dr. Harvey violated his constitutional rights two different times: first, by failing to give proper medical care and, second, by delaying in providing medical care. As to the first part of the claim (i.e., failure to give proper medical care), we conclude that the district court properly granted summary judgment: Mr. McBride never demonstrated deliberate indifference on the part of Dr. Harvey. See Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 106 (1976) (In order to state a cognizable claim, a prisoner must allege acts or omissions sufficiently harmful to evidence deliberate indifference to serious medical needs. It is only such indifference that can offend evolving standards of decency in violation of the Eighth Amendment.) (internal quotation marks omitted). 5 However, as to the second part of the claim (i.e., delay in providing medical care), we conclude that the district court erred. Mr. McBride alleged the following facts in his complaint and objections to the magistrate's report and recommendation: (1) Prior to being incarcerated at the OCDC, Mr. McBride suffered a gunshot wound to the leg and underwent surgery; (2) once at the OCDC, Mr. McBride was treated by Dr. Harvey on April 10, 1997, because of pain in his leg; (3) after being treated, Mr. McBride continued to experience pain; (4) consequently, Mr. McBride filed multiple grievances and sick call slips informing Dr. Harvey, among others, of the pain; (5) Dr. Harvey did not see Mr. McBride again until May 30, 1997; and (6) Mr. McBride no longer has full functions of [his] leg to this day. Rec., doc. 45, at 3. 6 According to the district court, Mr. McBride failed to state a claim because he did not allege substantial harm as a result of Dr. Harvey's delay. See Olson v. Stotts, 9 F.3d 1475, 1477 (10th Cir. 1993) (noting that a [d]elay in medical care can only constitute an Eighth Amendment violation if there has been deliberate indifference which results in substantial harm) (internal quotation marks omitted). However, as noted above, Mr. McBride stated explicitly that Dr. Harvey's delay caused him not to have full functions of [his] leg to this day. Rec., doc. 45, at 2-3. Because officials may be held liable when [a] delay results in a lifelong handicap or a permanent loss, Hunt v. Uphoff, 199 F.3d 1220, 1224 (10th Cir. 1999), we fail to see how Mr. McBride did not allege substantial harm. See also id. (Delays that courts have found to violate the Eighth Amendment have [also] frequently involved life-threatening situations and instances in which it is apparent that delay would exacerbate the prisoner's medical problems.). Of course, whether Mr. McBride will in fact be able to prove substantial harm or a sufficiently serious medical need, Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 834 (1994) is a different question; but, for the purposes of this appeal, our concern is otherwise. We need only ask whether Mr. McBride, proceeding pro se, has alleged sufficient facts to overcome the pleading hurdle.