By ESTEBAN PARRA
The News Journal
09/03/2004
The family of an inmate who was severely beaten by another prisoner in early July said he is not receiving proper medical attention and could be left permanently disabled or blind in one eye.
Timothy Ward's family said he authorized the corrections department on July 15 to release his medical records so they could see whether he was receiving proper medical care. The department has not given the records to the family.
"They won't give us nothing," said June Ward, Timothy Ward's sister. She and Ward's mother spoke Thursday at a news conference in the offices of Jeffrey M. Martin, one of the two lawyers representing Timothy Ward.
Prison officials said Timothy Ward has been seen by numerous doctors and specialists since July 10, when he was attacked by another inmate and left unconscious, according to Martin and attorney Herbert G.Feurhake. Some of Ward's teeth were knocked out and his nose and jaw were broken. He also suffered a serious injury to his right eye and lost hearing in his right ear.
Citing privacy issues, corrections spokeswoman Beth Welch said the department could not release any medical information.
"I am not able to go in to that amount of detail," she said.
But in a letter from Gov. Ruth Ann Minner's office, attorneys were told that Ward consulted with an oral surgeon July 19, an optometrist Aug. 20 and has been seen by medical professionals about nine times. The letter, which was dated Thursday and signed by Minner's legal counsel, Joseph C. Schoell, said Ward would be returned to the infirmary for further observation.
Timothy Ward's mother said her son needs to see an ophthalmologist and not an optometrist.
"I want him out of there and with a good doctor," Louise Ward said.
Ward is serving a 44-month sentence for second-degree burglary and a weapons charge.
"He is sentenced by the state to serve three years, not death. Not a brutal beating," Feurhake said. "It's disgraceful."
Contact Esteban Parra at eparra@delawareonline.com or 324-2299.
