An inmate whose HIV-positive diagnosis devolved into AIDS died because the medical staff at the California jail where he was housed denied him lifesaving medication even though they had his prescription and were told he needed it to survive, a new federal wrongful death lawsuit alleges

  • OurTragicUniverse@kbin.social
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    5 months ago

    His immune system was failing without the hiv meds, so all infections and diseases picked up while incarcerated was massively more harmful to his body than it would have been otherwise (or to anyone healthy).

    Think about how dirty and unhygenic and likely over crowded these detention centres are and how little healthcare is accessible to anyone incarcerated.

    There are yeasts and various skin fungi everywhere, lots of prisoners with ‘minor’ respiratory infections which are probably COVID, the food is the lowest quality with very poor production standards and often mould, there’s very likely mould on the walls and bedding in the cells and fecal matter from toilet spray too.

    • fine_sandy_bottom
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      5 months ago

      It takes a few years after infection for your immune system to develop AIDS after HIV infection.

      ARV prevents AIDS, most people on ARV have an immune system comparable to anyone else. The ARV is not a substitute immune system, it prevents HIV reproducing, which allows your immune system to function normally.

      With all that in mind, I had assumed it would take at least 6 months after ARV cessation to die from AIDS related infections, but I may be wrong.

      • OurTragicUniverse@kbin.social
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        5 months ago

        Prolonged extreme stress can wreck your body even if you’re perfectly healthy before experiencing it, and it wrecks you faster and worse if you have any chronic illnesses.

        I’m just guessing here but I don’t think he was unstressed and perfectly healthy before going into prison.

        • fine_sandy_bottom
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          5 months ago

          That’s pretty much what I said, poor adherence prior to prison.