Former inmate who lost baby sues Madison County Detention Center for alleged ADA violation
Originally published by WEKU.
A former inmate of the Madison County Detention Center has filed a federal lawsuit for an alleged lack of medical care that led to her baby being stillborn. Attorney Ryan Biggerstaff filed the suit last week. He said Valentina Frymyer was 38 months pregnant and suffering from opioid use disorder when she began serving her sentence for three narcotics convictions.
“The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that any and all lawful prescriptions written by a licensed physician be administered by any governmental entity that’s housing any of our citizens.”
Biggerstaff said his client was prescribed methadone, but wasn’t given the drug in jail, and despite Frymyer being taken to a Lexington hospital, her baby died.
“In mid-September, I think September 17, she had actually been checked up on by UK. The baby was checked on. Everything was, I mean, literally, not a single problem at all. And then there was this line in the sand where, a few days later, this administration of her medication stops.”
Biggerstaff said last year, two Kentucky detention centers accused of violating a Department of Justice directive on the ADA entered settlements. WEKU was unable to reach Madison Jailer Steve Tussey for comment. Frymyer is now being held in the Grayson County Detention Center after what Biggerstaff said was a planned move.
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Originally published by WEKU.
Republished with permission.