Inmate Isidoro Alvarado Died Following Medical Emergency At Texas Department of Criminal Justice In Hospital Galveston
GALVESTON, TEXAS (February 2, 2024) - An inmate identified as Isidoro Alvarado has tragically died following a medical emergency at a Texas Department of Criminal Justice jail in Galveston.
Texas Department of Criminal Justice officials are saying that the incident took place on January 16. Isidoro Alvarado was taken to the hospital in order to receive care for his medical condition.
He remained at the hospital for two weeks, but his condition continued to worsen. Sadly, Isidoro Alvarado was pronounced dead on January 31.
A full investigation into the cause of the death remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Texas Inmate Deaths
Thousands of people die in jails and prisons across the United States each year. According to the National Public Radio, “Jail deaths rose 11 percent since 2000 when the U.S. Department of Justice began tallying these deaths. Suicides are the leading cause of jail deaths. Fatal drug overdoses are the fastest growing cause of death.” There are a number of medical conditions that could lead an inmate to become unresponsive or need medical assistance.
- An inmate may be going through a drug overdose.
- An inmate maybe going through drug withdrawal.
- An inmate may be experiencing a heart attack.
- An inmate may become unresponsive due to septic shock.
Inmates are at risk from a number of health conditions. Indeed, heart disease remains one of the leading causes of inmate death. When a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. Jails should take a number of measures in order to protect inmates at risk of a heart attack.
- Inmates should be given all of the medications that they need.
- Certain inmates may need additional monitoring.
- Inmates need to be medically cleared before they enter the prison system.
There are a number of other common causes of inmate death. Regardless of their health condition, inmates are much more likely to die when they are being neglected. Indeed, most inmates do not get the level of care that they need. By some estimates, inmates with septic shock were nearly three times more likely to die than non-inmates going through septic shock. The family of any inmate that died in-custody may have legal recourse through a civil claim.
Investigating Texas Inmate Deaths
We at Scott H. Palmer, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of Isidoro Alvarado. There are many questions about what happened that still remain unanswered. It is our sincere hope that there is a thorough investigation and measures are put in place to prevent other tragedies like this.
Do you need more information about a TDCJ inmate death? Our team of civil rights attorneys are here to answer any questions that you may have. We are committed to helping inmates understand their rights and making sure that jails are following constitutional standards. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 214-987-4100.