Key Points:
– Widow Cecilia Bach has filed a lawsuit against San Diego county, Sheriff Kelly Martinez, and the jail’s medical provider, NaphCare, over her diabetic husband’s preventable death in jail.
– Keith Bach had been denied insulin in jail, leading to tragic consequences.
– The county Medical Examiner ruled Bach’s death as a homicide due to medical neglect.
– This lawsuit joins other 18 similar cases currently in federal court over San Diego County jail deaths.
Acing Legal Battle for Justice
San Diego city witnessed an emotional press moment as Cecilia Bach, the widow of a diabetic man who met an avoidable end at the city central jail, stepped forth to talk about her late husband, Keith. Having served over two decades as a navy veteran and a heating and air technician, Keith’s death evokes heated conversations on healthcare provision for inmates.
Keith’s Arrest and Subsequent Events
Bach, then aged 63, was arrested by Chula Vista police on September 25, 2023, on charges of vandalism and making a criminal threat. His diabetic condition meant he required insulin administration on regular intervals. When his blood sugar would cross the safe limits, occasional mood swings would ensue.
As Bach’s attorney John Gomez noted, Keith’s wife had called 911 in the past to combat such situations. Yet, the day of Keith’s arrest saw police officers arrive in place of paramedical staff. Keith was arrested on account of throwing his remote control inside his house. The Chula Vista Police Department is also named in the lawsuit filed by Cecilia.
Elevation in Blood Sugar and Insulin Administration
Following his arrest, Keith was taken to Scripps Mercy Hospital due to elevated blood sugar levels and subsequently cleared medically for jail. Jail orders had prescribed regular monitoring of his blood sugar levels by the medical staff. Despite blood sugar checks and administration of 10 units of insulin, Keith’s blood glucose level escalated to 322 mg/dl, considerably higher than the normal range.
The autopsy report highlighted that Keith initially refused further insulin, as he felt the 10 units offered were inadequate. However, he later accepted the offer, making that the last documented administration of insulin. Despite a nurse requesting an increased dosage, the approval remained under review until Keith’s death. Disturbingly, there is no record of any further medical care provided to Keith.
Extended Hours of Neglect and Emotional Turmoil
As the effects of the administered insulin began fading, alarms from Keith’s insulin pump started going off. Desperate pleas for help from both Keith and his fellow inmates were met with shocking indifference by jail deputies. Alarmingly, Keith received no medication or medical attention for over 24 hours as his condition deteriorated.
During this period, Cecilia received alerts from her husband’s insulin pump via a cellphone app. The notifications led her to the jail to supply more insulin, but she was reassured that Keith would receive proper medical care by the jail’s staff and deputies.
In a tragic turn of events, Keith was found unconscious and not breathing early on September 28th and was declared dead just after 4 a.m. According to the medical examiner, the cause of death was diabetic ketoacidosis due to inadequate medical care, with the death classified as a homicide.
The Second Homicide Ruling
This decision marked only the second time in over two decades that the Medical Examiner’s Office laid a homicide charge for a death in sheriff’s custody not involving an inmate or deputy. The previous case was Lonnie Rupard, diagnosed with schizophrenia and other mental disorders, who died in the same jail a year prior from malnutrition, dehydration and pneumonia.
The Sheriff’s Office stated that they are taking the situation seriously and are conducting a thorough internal review. Meanwhile, Cecilia’s lawsuit adds to the ongoing 18 federal court cases related to San Diego County jail deaths in recent years. Over the last five years, San Diego county has paid roughly $75 million in settlements and jury verdicts related to similar circumstances.
Cecilia’s heartbreaking story underscores the need for more stringent measures and better healthcare provisions in prisons to prevent such tragic incidents. It also poses a serious question on those who were responsible for caring for her beloved husband Keith.