Opinion ID: 2765413
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Moore’s Medical Care, May 2010-May 2013

Text: Moore’s prison medical records show the following. On May 12, 2010, Moore reported to the prison infirmary with a “[b]reathing problem,” and he returned the next day with nasal drainage and a cough that was producing “[t]hick green stuff.” Moore reported that he began experiencing symptoms about one week before reporting to the infirmary. The nurse practitioner diagnosed Moore with hay fever or allergies and prescribed him an antihistamine and nasal spray. 2 We have recognized that, in responding to a defendant’s summary judgment motion, facts alleged in an inmate’s sworn pleading are sufficient and a separate affidavit is not necessary. See Sammons v. Taylor, 967 F.2d 1533, 1544 n.5 (11th Cir. 1992). 3 On the other hand, Farquhar attested in an affidavit that sufficient protective gear was available onsite during the Wheeler House project. 5 Case: 14-11201 Date Filed: 12/30/2014 Page: 6 of 13 Six months later, on November 17, 2010, while housed at the Limestone Correctional Facility, Moore was seen at sick call and requested pills for sinus problems. Moore was seen again on February 23, 2011, at which time he complained of allergy-like symptoms, including sneezing and watery eyes, and reported that Zyrtec helped greatly. Moore was diagnosed with allergic rhinitis, and his prescription of Zyrtec was renewed. On April 15, 2011, Moore submitted a sick call request stating that he was suffering from headaches. Subsequently, Moore scheduled an appointment with a nurse practitioner. The nurse practitioner, Debra Means, saw Moore on April 27, 2011, at which time Moore complained of facial sinus pressure, a headache, and lower back pain. Moore also reported that he earlier had coughed up blood. Moore requested a pain reliever. Nurse Means diagnosed Moore with sinusitis, prescribed him an antibiotic and a sinus spray, and ordered a chest x-ray. The x-ray of Moore was performed on May 17, 2011 and revealed a “[m]odest right midlung module.” Nurse Means then ordered a CT scan of Moore’s chest, and Valley Imaging Center in Athens, Alabama performed the CT scan on June 3, 2011. In a report on the scan, Dr. Joseph Cannon noted that Moore had a history of chronic smoking. The scan confirmed the presence of a thirteenmillimeter nodule in Moore’s right lung. 6 Case: 14-11201 Date Filed: 12/30/2014 Page: 7 of 13 On August 17, 2011, a cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Richard Clay, evaluated Moore and requested that a follow-up CT scan be performed in November 2011 to check for any change in the size of the nodule.4 On November 14, 2011, Valley Imaging performed a second CT scan of Moore’s chest, which revealed that the nodule was benign, stable, and had not grown in size since the previous CT scan. Dr. Clay saw Moore on November 16, 2011 and ordered a follow-up CT scan in six months. Valley Imaging performed a third CT scan of Moore’s chest on May 1, 2012, which showed that the nodule had not grown or changed. Dr. Cannon again noted Moore’s history of chronic smoking. On May 9, 2012, Dr. Clay ordered that a follow-up CT scan be performed in one year. Dr. Clay examined Moore again on May 22, 2013. Dr. Clay’s notes indicate that he recommended a CT scan to watch for pleural thickening but did not recommend a follow-up appointment with his office unless the CT scan revealed changes.