Two prisoners have filed a class action lawsuit against the state, accusing the Tennessee Department of Correction of systematically denying treatment for hepatitis C.
The prison system has been dealing with a widespread outbreak, with nearly one in six inmates testing positive. The two plaintiffs in the case were diagnosed with hepatitis C years ago.
In May of this year, only a handful of prisoners in the entire state were being treated with an anti-viral regimen, which costs about $80,000 per patient.
Prison officials have cited the price and the likelihood that inmates will contract the disease again after they’re cured as reasons not to bother with treatment.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee argues that denying treatment constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.
Read the complaint
here.
In response, a spokesperson says TDOC is currently “unaware” of the lawsuit and is “confident the department is providing adequate medical care as determined by medical protocol.”
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