(IntegrityTimes.com) – On Sunday July 14, Charizma Jones died of apparent complications during treatment for scarlet fever at Elmhurst hospital in Queens while serving a one-year sentence for assault at New York’s Riker’s Island.
The Legal Aid Society has sent a letter to the NYC Board of Correction demanding answers regarding Jones’ death. In the letter they accuse the Department of Correction (DOC) of interfering with the treatment of Jones while she was in medical isolation after being released from the infirmary.
Jones had a history of liver failure, and when she developed a rash and fever she was admitted to the jail’s infirmary. Records show that she received treatment for some time starting around April 28. While under medical isolation at that time, staff still had ready access to treat her. When she was admitted again on May 4 though, the staff say the DOC blocked their access to monitor Jones’ vital signs. Although it was never confirmed, the medical staff believe she had scarlet fever.
On May 6 Jones was sent to Elmhurst Hospital where she remained hospitalized for months. She slipped into a coma while there and died on July 14. Staff believe she had an allergic reaction to the amoxicillin they were using to treat her for scarlet fever. While scarlet fever can be deadly, it is curable with antibiotics if treated in a timely manner. The Legal Aid Society says that she was left unattended, feverish and covered in scarlet fever’s signature red rash for two days without medical assistance.
MK Kaishian, an attorney for Jones’ family, has joined in on the Legal Aid Society call for an investigation into Jones’ death. She characterized the denial of medical care by the DOC as “contemptuous and inhumane”. New York City Mayor Eric Adams expressed sympathy for the family’s grief and agreed that a review of the incident should take place. The NYS Commission of Correction has started an investigation, while unrelated activist groups are using the tragic death of Jones as a call to close Riker’s Island entirely.
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