Opinion ID: 539921
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Failure to Obtain Medical Records

Text: 37 The two constitutional violations already discussed point to a third. Wood contends that his medical records should have been transferred on March 11, 1983, at the time he was transferred from the Clark County jail to NSP; or that, at the least, the records should have been transferred shortly thereafter. I agree, and conclude that this, too, constituted deliberate indifference. 38 The State apparently chooses not to provide medical treatment to prisoners without reviewing their medical records, and at least in nonemergency situations, there may well be merit to that course of action. It seems prudent for doctors to review new patients' medical histories before prescribing treatment whenever possible. However, given this requirement, the State has an obligation to facilitate the obtaining of prisoners' medical records, whether by ensuring that prisoners arrive with their medical records or by making whatever other arrangements can reasonably be made, so that the records will be available at the institution when the prisoners arrive or as soon thereafter as practicable. For, whatever prerequisites the State attaches to the availability of medical care, the State's constitutional obligation to provide that care remains undiminished. Inmates are certain to have medical complaints; that is why the State provides doctors and infirmaries in the first place. The failure to request the medical records of prisoners transferring to a new institution until after they need medical attention virtually ensures that medical care will be delayed when the inevitable need for such care finally arises. When such failure reflects the common practice, the system contains a built-in period of needless suffering, evidencing deliberate indifference on the part of the State to the health of the inmates and to their future medical needs. 39 At oral argument, the Deputy Attorney General argued that it would be unreasonable to expect the State to transfer a prisoner's records from the jail along with the prisoner, although he failed to explain why. I do not believe that we can simply assume the correctness of his argument. In any event, even if the State could establish a valid reason for not transferring medical records along with its prisoners, that proposition would not advance its cause much. For the State completely failed to explain why it makes no effort to obtain medical records as soon after a prisoner's arrival as practicable. 8 Here, necessary medical treatment was unreasonably delayed because there was apparently no procedure for obtaining records until after the need for them arose. By making its receipt of medical records a prerequisite to constitutionally required medical care (or perhaps simply by assuming absolute custody over persons who may suffer illness or injury), the State assumed the obligation to make at least a reasonable effort to obtain those records at the earliest practicable time. The failure to make any effort to procure Wood's records until after he suffered a serious injury constituted a third instance of deliberate indifference. 9