Letter to the editor: A better way to investigate deaths at jail

The National Commission on Correctional Health Care mandates that a clinical mortality review be done within 30 days of a death at a county jail, and it found in an investigation of the Allegheny County Jail that “Allegheny County doesn’t do clinical mortality reviews.” Completing mortality reviews is essential to find cause and prevent further deaths.

It was announced at a recent Jail Oversight Board meeting that NCCHC will be coming to the jail to investigate deaths that happened last year. This is in clear violation of the 30-day rule. The 30-day rule exists because waiting for many months after a death fogs people’s memories, and records can be misplaced or even changed. Staff can leave.

NCCHC also recommends that “an outside medical agency” can do the mortality reviews, and NCCHC is willing to provide a free orientation in how to do mortality reviews.

Considering the political intrigue surrounding the many deaths that have occurred at our jail, doesn’t it make sense to draw from our rich supply of medical providers locally who could comply with the 30-day rule and provide the needed autonomy to make impartial and comprehensive investigations? It would be much cheaper also.

Death is final. We owe it to the residents, families of the residents of our jail and ourselves to do everything we can to limit deaths. Our jail has experienced a rate of death that is twice the national’s average.

John Kenstowicz

Morningside