By Chad Miller
From PHN Issue 55, Winter 2024
Please inform your readers that the point and purpose of federal laws like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are to protect you and your privacy.
Note: I have found when I deal with medical staff concerning my health, records, or services, I throw acronyms like “HIPAA” or “ADA” around and things begin to happen, such as appointments to be seen. I encourage all incarcerated readers to contact your law librarian, counselor or ombudsman at your institution and learn the standard operating procedures to get the staff to perform well. They hold us to a standard; I hold them to the written standards.
As much as I agree with Anonymous’ words about civil disobedience from your Winter 2023 issue, I have found unity to be very silent in prison today. So instead, knowing the law, knowing the policies and procedures is very important. Educating yourself with the language “they” use is highly beneficial. A tip I have learned is: Do not tell the nurse or doctor what is wrong with you. Never say “Dr. Jones, I have a dislocated disk and need my medication for the pain.” Remember, you are not a doctor, so you cannot diagnose yourself. Go in and say, “Doc, it hurts here when I do this.” “Doctor, I sat up and this happens, and I cannot sit for long without pain here—help me!” They want to be important and diagnose you. Let them! Always make your request forms say simple, short requests. The longer a request is written, with a story of who did what or didn’t do something, it gets passed over.
When you do get seen, don’t tell them what you want, tell them you need relief and ask for anything to help. You might be surprised at what they will do for you next time.
I also recommend writing to the Prison Book Program, c/o Lucy Parsons Bookstore, 1306 Hancock Street, Suite 100, Quincy, MA 02169 and asking for “We the People Legal Primer.” This is a great beginners guide before the Jailhouse Lawyer’s Handbook, which was created by the Center for Constitutional Rights and the National Lawyers Guild.
Prison Health News 