Opinion ID: 2284178
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Deliberate indifference.

Text: The requirement that a § 1983 claim allege deliberate indifference by prison personnel is satisfied by alleging that prison officials knew of the prisoner's need for medical care, as recommended by medical professionals, and intentionally refused to provide it. Estelle, supra, 429 U.S. at 104-05, 97 S.Ct. at 291 (deliberate indifference is manifested in intentionally denying or delaying access to medical care or intentionally interfering with treatment once prescribed.); Ancata v. Prison Health Servs., 769 F.2d 700, 704 (11th Cir. 1985) (The knowledge of the need for medical care and intentional refusal to provide that care has consistently been held to surpass negligence and constitute deliberate indifference.) (citing Robinson v. Moreland, 655 F.2d 887 (8th Cir.1981)); Ramos v. Lamm, 639 F.2d 559, 575 (8th Cir.1980), cert. denied, 450 U.S. 1041, 101 S.Ct. 1759, 68 L.Ed.2d 239 (1981) (Deliberate indifference to serious medical needs is shown when prison officials have prevented an inmate from receiving recommended treatment or when an inmate is denied access to medical personnel capable of evaluating the need for treatment); Martinez v. Mancusi, 443 F.2d 921, 924 (2d Cir.1970), cert. denied, 401 U.S. 983, 91 S.Ct. 1202, 28 L.Ed.2d 335 (1971) (prison officials who deliberately defy the express instructions of a prisoner's physician are more than merely negligent). See also Gill v. Mooney, 824 F.2d 192, 195-96 (2d Cir.1987) (allegation that prisoner was denied extra time in gymnasium to participate in rehabilitative exercise program prescribed by his physician was sufficient to state a colorable claim or deliberate indifference to prisoner's medical needs); accord Payne v. Lynaugh, 843 F.2d 177, 178 (5th Cir.1988). Compare Gill, supra, 824 F.2d 192 at 195 (in the absence of medical proscriptions, prison guard's decision to ignore prisoner's complaints of dizziness and nausea while painting amounted to nothing more than mere negligence). Furthermore, a case of deliberate indifference may be made out by alleging that necessary medical treatment was delayed for non-medical reasons. Ancata, supra, 769 F.2d at 704. (complaint alleging that prison officials refused to take prisoner to doctor's appointments on ground he was a security risk stated a § 1983 claim, since such action by prison officials could result from deliberate indifference rather than accident or inadvertence). See also Hurst, supra, 579 F.2d at 941. Johnson-El's complaint sets forth allegations similar to those held to be sufficient in the above cases, i.e. that prison officials delayed or denied what they acknowledged as necessary medical treatment for non-medical reasons. E.g., Ancata, supra, 769 F.2d at 704; Gill, supra, 824 F.2d at 195-96. Specifically, he alleges the following: (1) that his scalp condition was diagnosed by a dermatologist at the District's Occoquan facility, who prescribed a course of medical treatment that included an appointment within thirty days' time; (2) that prison officials, including the Medical Technican Assistant, were aware of this diagnosis because they took him to see the dermatologist at their own facility and because Johnson-El made them aware of it through repeated complaints and requests that he be permitted to see the dermatologist; (3) that prison officials, specifically the Medical Technician Assistant, gave a non-medical reason for the delay or denial in granting him access to the dermatologistthe lack of available transportation, thus acknowledging, indirectly at least, that the prescribed treatment was necessary; and (4) that prison officials were aware that his condition was worsening through his repeated complaints and requests for treatment. On the basis of these allegations, particularly when read in conjunction with the pretrial statement, and in light of the cases cited above, it is within the realm of the possible that Johnson-El can prove that the conduct of prison officials involved more than ordinary lack of due care for the prisoner's interests of safety and thus, constituted cruel and unusual punishment. Whitley v. Albers, 475 U.S. 312, 319, 106 S.Ct. 1078, 1084, 89 L.Ed.2d 251 (1986). Thus, we cannot say that it is beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim that would entitle him to relief. Conley, supra, 355 U.S. at 45-46, 78 S.Ct. at 102.