Inmate Deaths in New York Lead to Investigation of Blue Bell Medical Company

Following critical reports by the New York Commission of Correction (COC) regarding the prison medical care provided by Blue Bell-based Correctional Medical Care Inc. (CMC), the Attorney General of New York has announced that his office has launched an investigation into the deaths of nine inmates over a three-year span.

In an article by Steve Reilly at the Ithaca Journal, CMC repeatedly defends the care they provide, but Reilly cites reports by the COC's Medical Review Board which state that CMC had at least "some level of fault" in the deaths of nine inmates. Some reports go as far as recommending county-level inquiries to decide if CMC is fit to provide care, the report states.

CMC was founded in May of 2001 by Emre Umar, whom the report identifies as a former insurance market analyst and son of a physician. The company previously provided care for prisoners at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility (MCCF) from 2002 through 2011.

While providing services for the MCCF, at least two lawsuits were brought against CMC, including an inmate who said that the staff allegedly failed to detect a spinal abscess, and alleged mistreatment of an inmate who was an above-the-knee amputee.

In February of 2012, a federal judge denied the request by Montgomery County to dismiss one of the lawsuits, which alleges that the defendants violated the plaintiff's Eighth Amendment right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment.

According to the Associated Press, the company says it uses "some of the most qualified and dedicated licensed medical personnel in New York state to provide inmate health services in a cost-effective manor"

Click here to read the detailed report in the Ithaca Journal.