Opinion ID: 2495239
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Walker's Medical Treatment

Text: Walker's sons testified at their depositions that they grew worried for Walker's safety when she did not return home on the day of her arrest. They started looking for her the next morning and found her that afternoon when Walker's daughter-in-law telephoned the Department. Walker's sons drove to the jail, where they paid Walker's bail. She was released into their custody approximately 24 hours after her arrest. They testified that the detention officers told them only that Walker had been arrested for driving under the influence and that she was incoherent. Walker's sons testified that when they saw her, she appeared to be in very bad shape. She had several bruises and scratches on her arms and legs; she also seemed disoriented and complained of a headache. Walker's sons stated that she told them she could not remember what had happened to her but denied drinking or using drugs. They further stated that they tried to convince her to see a doctor but that she refused. They stated that they assumed that she was intoxicated because the detention officer they spoke with said she had been arrested for driving under the influence. Walker's sons made sure that Walker was with a family member during the next 24 hours. When her symptoms did not improve, they insisted that she see a doctor. On Tuesday, July 30, 2002, Walker was admitted to the emergency-room at Gadsden Regional Medical Center. The admitting nurse noted Walker's condition as non-urgent. The nurse also noted bruises on Walker's arms and legs. The emergency-room physician's notes state that Walker's chief complaint on admission was neck pain and that she also complained of amnesia. Walker's doctors performed a CT scan of her head and neck, which revealed a subarachnoid hemorrhagea brain aneurysm. Later that night, Walker was transferred to the University of Alabama at Birmingham hospital for treatment by a specialist. During the next several months, Walker underwent at least three brain surgeries. She ultimately recovered, but has no memory of the events that occurred on July 28 and 29, 2002. Lab tests of Walker's blood taken upon her admission to Gadsden Regional Medical Center showed negative results for the presence of illegal drugs.