The Huffington Post's Jake Pearson has written a fantastic piece on what must follow as one of most tragic news stories of the year.
Jerome Murdough, a homeless veteran who was on prescription antipsychotic and antiseizure medication to combat his ruthless bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, was "arrested for trespassing" as he "was...looking for a warm place to sleep on a chilly night.. [and] curled up in an enclosed stairwell on the roof of a Harlem public housing project" (Pearson 1).
Murdough, in the facility's psychiatric wing, was, according to Pearson, to be checked routinely in 15 minute increments for suicide watch. This never happened as frequently as it should have, but they should have checked in for a much different purpose.
In the tender words of an anonymous officer, "He basically baked to death".
According to Pearson, "four city officials say [that Murdough's cell] had overheated to at least 100 degrees, apparently because of malfunctioning equipment" (qtd. Pearson 1). Jerome's psychiatric medication "may have made him more vulnerable to heat," as he was found "slumped over in his bed" as he "did not open a small vent in his cell, as other inmates did, to let in cool air" (1).
The lack of a solemn statement of condolence by prison officials is disconcerting.
"He wasn't just some old homeless person on the street. He was loved. He had a life. He had a family. He had feelings" said Murdough's sister Wanda (qtd. 1).
A homeless man with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, a former Marine, seeking some shelter, was thrown in a cell in a penitentiary where he was neglected until he, as the officer so delicately stated, "baked to death".
This is an outright tragedy that raises questions about the way we treat homeless individuals and those with mental illness. Should this man have been brought to prison for trespassing? Even if yes, why not a psychiatric hospital where they are more apt to handle the antipsychotic and antiseizure medication he was under?
This man had inherent worth and dignity. As much as you or I or any other cohabitant of this planet. We can't take this as an unfortunate consequence of a "efficient" system for dealing with the mentally ill.
Jerome Murdough, a homeless veteran who was on prescription antipsychotic and antiseizure medication to combat his ruthless bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, was "arrested for trespassing" as he "was...looking for a warm place to sleep on a chilly night.. [and] curled up in an enclosed stairwell on the roof of a Harlem public housing project" (Pearson 1).
Murdough, in the facility's psychiatric wing, was, according to Pearson, to be checked routinely in 15 minute increments for suicide watch. This never happened as frequently as it should have, but they should have checked in for a much different purpose.
In the tender words of an anonymous officer, "He basically baked to death".
According to Pearson, "four city officials say [that Murdough's cell] had overheated to at least 100 degrees, apparently because of malfunctioning equipment" (qtd. Pearson 1). Jerome's psychiatric medication "may have made him more vulnerable to heat," as he was found "slumped over in his bed" as he "did not open a small vent in his cell, as other inmates did, to let in cool air" (1).
The lack of a solemn statement of condolence by prison officials is disconcerting.
"He wasn't just some old homeless person on the street. He was loved. He had a life. He had a family. He had feelings" said Murdough's sister Wanda (qtd. 1).
A homeless man with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, a former Marine, seeking some shelter, was thrown in a cell in a penitentiary where he was neglected until he, as the officer so delicately stated, "baked to death".
This is an outright tragedy that raises questions about the way we treat homeless individuals and those with mental illness. Should this man have been brought to prison for trespassing? Even if yes, why not a psychiatric hospital where they are more apt to handle the antipsychotic and antiseizure medication he was under?
This man had inherent worth and dignity. As much as you or I or any other cohabitant of this planet. We can't take this as an unfortunate consequence of a "efficient" system for dealing with the mentally ill.