Inmate Gabriel Sanchez (Full Name: Gabriel Michael Sanchez) Died Following Medical Emergency At Galveston Jail
GALVESTON COUNTY, TEXAS (December 9, 2023) - A 70-year-old inmate identified as Gabriel Sanchez has tragically died following a medical emergency at a Galveston jail.
Galveston County officials are saying that the incident began around 7:45 p.m. on December 5. Gabriel Sanchez was transported to a TDCJ medical facility due to his medical condition.
He was then transported to a second hospital to receive further care. The next day he was transported to Galveston Hospital where his condition continued to decline.
Sadly, Gabriel Sanchez was later pronounced dead by medical staff. His cause of death was listed as septic shock with multi-organ failure.
A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Galveston Inmate Deaths
Inmates must often contend with numerous serious health issues including sepsis. According to The Lancet, “Sepsis, a syndrome that occurs when a body's response to an infection becomes maladaptive and injures organs and tissues, presents another important challenge for prisoners and inmates. That prisoners with sepsis fare worse than non-prisoners makes sense in view of the differences between the prison population and the general population.” There are a number of common symptoms associated with sepsis.
- Fever
- Rapid heart rate
- Rapid breathing
- Low blood pressure
- Confusion
- Skin changes
Jails have a legal obligation to provide inmates with adequate healthcare for all of their medical conditions. When an inmate is showing signs of medical distress, they should typically be taken to the hospital as quickly as possible. One of the most common forms of medical neglect in jails occurs when inmates are not allowed to see medical professionals in a timely manner. There are a number of factors within the prison system that could lead to poor health outcomes.
- Overcrowding within jails can lead to an increased risk of infectious diseases. It also limits the medical resources that all inmates have access to.
- When jails have limited access to substance abuse treatment programs, this often leads to worse health outcomes.
- It is common for jails to lack preventative healthcare measures.
When a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of any inmate, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. Medical errors could be made on the part of jail staff as well as employees of private healthcare facilities. It is common for jails to outsource their healthcare needs to private corporations. These companies are primarily concerned with making a profit as oppose to providing constitutionally adequate care.
Investigating Galveston Inmate Deaths
We at Scott H. Palmer, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of Gabriel Sanchez. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent other tragedies like this. There needs to be some accountability for what happened. The sheer number of in-custody deaths across Galveston County remains deeply concerning.
Do you need more information about a Galveston County inmate death? Our team of civil rights attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We are committed to getting inmates and their families the support and justice that they are entitled to under the law. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 214-987-4100.