Opinion ID: 2516031
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: In response, Garnett filed the following items:

Text: 1. Nerve Conduction Study 2. Health Services Request Form 3. Infirmary Admission Record 4. Consultation Reports 5. Physician's Orders 6. Progress Notes 7. Dictated Notes of Dr. Schulze 8. Discharge Summary 9. Operative Report 10. Discharge Instructions 11. Lay In 12. Medication Administration Report, September 1999 13. NCCHC (National Commission on Correctional Health Care) Standards P-01Access to Care 14. NCCHC Standards P-15Environmental Health and Safety 15. NCCHC Standards P-38Sick Call 16. NCCHC Standards P-42Patient Transport 17. NCCHC Standards P-52Infirmary Care 18. Wyoming Department of Corrections Medical Care Contract 19. Informal Grievance dated June 23, 1999 20. Formal Grievance dated June 28, 1999 21. Formal Grievance Acknowledgment dated June 29, 1999 22. Formal Grievance Amendment dated July 14, 1999 23. Formal Grievance Appeal dated August 1, 1999 24. Informal Grievance dated August 8, 1999 25. Formal Grievance dated August 11, 1999 26. Formal Grievance Acknowledgment dated August 12, 1999 27. Informal Grievance dated August 17, 1999 28. Informal Grievance Answer dated August 18, 1999 29. Formal Grievance dated August 22, 1999 30. Formal Grievance Answer dated September 3, 1999 31. Grievance Appeal Answer dated September 8, 1999 32. Informal Grievance dated September 8, 1999 33. Letter to Associate Warden Jerry Steele dated September 9, 1999 34. Letter to Associate Warden Jerry Steele dated September 10, 1999 35. Formal Grievance dated September 13, 1999 36. Formal Grievance Acknowledgment dated September 17, 1999 37. Informal Grievance Answer dated September 17, 1999 38. Grievance Appeal dated October 18, 1999 39. Affidavit of Kerry Garnett 40. Affidavit of Merrill Ayers 41. Affidavit of Merrill Ayers 42. Affidavit of Mark Farnham 43. Affidavit of Todd Brock 44. Letter from Lori GorsethAttorney General's Office 45. Letter from Dr. Kenneth Schulze 46. Documented refusal to attend dangerous surgical procedure [¶ 9] Garnett began suffering from left arm and wrist pain as early as 1996. Dr. Coyle began working at WSP in April 1999. In that same month, Dr. Coyle examined Garnett and referred him to Dr. Schulze, an orthopedic surgeon in Rawlins, for evaluation for possible CTS. Dr. Schulze recommended nerve conduction studies, which were approved by Dr. Coyle, and which were performed by Dr. McMahon, a neurologist in Lander. Dr. Coyle reviewed Dr. McMahon's report on May 18, 1999. [¶ 10] In late June 1999, Garnett submitted a standard form for additional health services. He was seen on June 30, 1999, by the nursing staff, who scheduled an appointment for Garnett with Dr. Coyle on July 14, 1999. Dr. Coyle examined Garnett on the latter date. Believing that Garnett's symptoms might be caused by something other than CTS, Dr. Coyle recommended cervical stretching exercises for six to eight weeks. [2] [¶ 11] The nursing staff again saw Garnett on July 20, 1999, and August 8, 1999. For purposes of summary judgment review, we accept Garnett's assertions, as did the district court, that Dr. Coyle refused to see him for a period of time during this interval. [3] As can be seen from the list of exhibits Garnett submitted in opposition to summary judgment, he filed numerous informal and formal grievances during this period complaining of the delay since 1996 and his current inability to see Dr. Coyle. On August 10, 1999, Dr. Coyle again reviewed Garnett's records, and on August 17, 1999, Dr. Coyle referred Garnett to Dr. Schulze, this time for a surgical consultation. On August 23, 1999, Dr. Schulze recommended CTS surgery for Garnett's left wrist. The next day, Dr. Coyle ordered the surgery. The surgery was performed successfully on September 7, 1999. [4] [¶ 12] Garnett's grievances did not end with the surgery. For purposes of his summary judgment motion, we will assume as true Garnett's additional complaints that Dr. Coyle changed the surgeon's pain medication recommendation from Percocet to Darvocet, that Garnett did not receive the antibiotics prescribed by the surgeon, that Garnett was not given the incentive spirometer he was supposed to use after surgery, and that he did not receive the throat lozenges he requested for pain resulting from the surgical breathing tube. [¶ 13] CTS generally is a one-day procedure and patients do not typically receive post-hospital professional care. WSP's infirmary policy, however, required Garnett to stay in the infirmary for one day after surgery. Because his infirmary room was unclean, Garnett objected to being placed there. When informed of the situation, Dr. Coyle responded that he did not have time for this, and did nothing about the room's condition. Garnett then told Dr. Coyle he would be sorry for making him stay there, adding if you leave me in this filthy room, I'm taking your stupid ass to court. [¶ 14] Garnett was seen by an RN and Dr. Coyle the day after his surgery. He had normal left hand sensations and movement, and he made no complaints of nausea, vomiting or other medication side effects. The following day, September 9, 1999, he was seen by Dr. Schulze, who reordered antibiotics, use of the incentive spirometer and pain medication. For purposes of the summary judgment motion, the district court assumed as true Garnett's statement that by September 10, 1999, he was complaining that the pain medication was making him ill. The medical records show no such complaint until nearly midnight on September 11, 1999. When informed the next morning of Garnett's complaints, Dr. Coyle changed Garnett's pain medication to Tylenol or Advil. [¶ 15] Beginning on September 15, 1999, Garnett's care was handled by a physician's assistant, Jeff Deiss, P.A. (Deiss). Deiss removed the sutures from Garnett's incisions, noting no signs of infection, with good healing, sensation, color and movement. Deiss saw Garnett again on September 17, 1999, and September 20, 1999. Garnett's final follow-up appointment with Dr. Schulze revealed normal left hand function, reduced pain and marked improvement of the symptoms that necessitated the surgery. Garnett recovered fully from the surgery, with no complications.