The parents of a 32-year-old man who died in a Texas jail have filed a $25 million lawsuit alleging wrongful death. The parents claimed that the man was deprived of anxiety medication causing his death. They also accused the sheriff and jailers are of violating his rights.
Chron reported that the man, identified as Jesse Jacobs, died last year after he turned himself into the county jail last March. He had a list of medications he needed to take while he served a 30-day sentence for driving under the influence.
He has taken his prescriptions with him and a note from his doctor saying that it is imperative for him to continue his medications, Houston Chronicle reported. On March 9, Jacobs told his parents that he has not received the medications. On March 10, he began having seizures. Three days after, he was found unresponsive, drooling, and had no pulse. He was then taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
His parents believe that him being cut off the Xanax he has been taking since he was 19 years old was the cause of his death. He has been taking the medications for ADD, anxiety, depression, as well as other mental conditions.
It was also reported by Reuters that the cause of death, which came four days before he was supposed to be released due to good behavior and jail credits, claimed that it was caused by the seizure disorder and "abrupt discontinuation of long term alprazolam medication."
The Texas Medical Board is now considering whether or not disciplinary action is needed for the two doctors who reportedly oversaw the decision to stop supplying Jacobs with Xanax. The Galveston County District Attorney's office is also reportedly investigating the case.
The defendants in the lawsuit are Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset and the jail staff at the time of Jacobs' death. Trochesset has denied any wrongdoing at the jail noting that the Xanax was stopped as it was a narcotic. However, Xanax is said to be a controlled substance but is not classified under narcotics.
Six inmates have died while in custody of Galveston County jailers since January of 2010. Five were said to be dead due to intoxication, illness, or natural causes while one died from suicide.
