A Death Sentence

One man's fight for his life

Michigan doesn’t have the death penalty, but the state of health care in it’s prison systems make you wonder. Meet Lloyd Byron Martell, MDOC prisoner 335246

Martell will die of colon cancer that could have been treated if doctors at his prison didn’t lie about the diagnosis 18 months ago.

In December of 2004, Martell had what he believed was a hemorrhoid lanced in prison. Medical records, that Martell secretly snuck out of prison, says it was actually cancerous polyp. Martell said Dr. Jerome Wisneski, who works for Correctional Medical Services told him he would be fine. Martell’s one to four years for evading police became a death sentence.

Most people would agree that negligent medical care that leads to serious health problems, virtual torture, and yes even death should not be part of a prison sentence.