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Abstract: 

Sixty-one years old Janice Dotson-Stephens died in a UHS facility (affiliated with Bexar Co. Texas Hospital District). She had spent 150 continuous days confined as a pretrial detainee in the Bexar Co. (San Antonio) system with death attributed to an enlarged heart with narrowing of vessels and schizoaffective disorder a contributing factor. After her arrest on July 17, 2018, Ms. Dotson-Stephens remained under the care of defendants UHS and Yao until her death on December 14, 2018. During those 150 days, Ms. Dotson-Stephens was seen by at least thirty-two (32) different UHS employees or contractors, including at least once by defendant Yao, for a total of 494 times – on average, over three (3) times per day. She refused meals at least 102 times. She began refusing fluids on October 12, 2018. She had auditory and visual hallucinations 117 times. She continued to talk to herself and to people who were not there. She refused medical care, day area access, showers, meals, and vital sign measurements. She exhibited daily indicators of schizophrenia and 174 documented instances of schizoaffective disorder. UHS documented and knew all of the above, and Ms. Dotson-Stephens’ documented mental health history was readily ascertainable to UHS and Yao throughout her incarceration. Yet, there is no record of any substantive mental health treatment or intervention, and Ms. Dotson-Stephens was not given any medications to treat either her mental illness or her hypertension. Instead, UHS records indicate 304 times that doctors, and nurses would “continue to monitor” her. Ms. Dotson-Stephens lost 136 pounds in 150 days under the care of defendants UHS and Yao. When she died on December 14, 2018, her chart history indicated: “61 y.o. female with history of schizoaffective, HTN. Noncompliant with any medical or mental health intervention/medications since arrival to Bexar County jail in July 2018.” The current lawsuit references the U.S. and Texas constitutions as a basis for her survivors’ claim of an unconstitutional level of care.

Keywords: Dotson v. Bexar Co. Hospital District

Affiliations:  1: Executive Editor.