“As written, the zap includes out of date information, although this is no fault of Shinewhite’s. The Department is being very shady and refusing to make their current Clinical Practice Guidelines public. For that reason, this C2A contains incorrect information about the results of the test he took. It’s a bit in the weeds, but the scale he provides in the zap is for a test called Fibrosure, whose results are measured between 0 and .74. But Fibrosure is NOT the test Shinewhite took. Fibrosure is an old test the Department no longer uses; SW is confused because the previous (outdated) clinical guidelines reference Fibrosure. But today they use a different test called FIB-4, whose results are measured on a different numeric scale; that’s the test SW had, on which he scored a 5.7. To be clear, an FIB-4 is very high, and should trigger mandatory treatment — so we DO need to push for him to get treated!! But I’m concerned that if we marshall a bunch of collective resources for a zap and have everyone call and reference these old numbers, they’re just going to say “that’s old info, you don’t know what you’re talking about” and we’ll have to do ANOTHER zap again right away, which as you know expends people’s limited organizing resources. Another note is that Gary Junker is not available at that phone number — it’s disconnected, it goes nowhere. Don’t use it!! I would just use the main number 919-838-4000 and ask to be connected to Gary Junker’s office.” I’ve updated the version in the linked pad, and changed the relevant paragraphs to: “Only after consulting with a prisoner who was receiving treatment for HCV at the time, did I become aware of the procedures that are in place for evaluating and treating prisoners who have the Hep-C virus. Before treatment can be started, additional blood testing is required to determine one’s level of fibrosis. After becoming aware of the aforementioned, I immediately began to submit sick calls requesting the required blood testing be done to determine my Fib-4 index score. My sick calls went unanswered, only after those of you on the outside made calls to the prison on my behalf was I taken to medical to have the Fib-4 test done. The test results revealed that my Fib-4 score was 5.7, which indicates that I am at risk of cirrhosis, liver disease and/or liver cancer. However, the health care provider has yet to begin my treatment. These scores were revealed to me on March 3, subsequently I’ve not been assessed by medical personnel since, despite submitting multiple sick-calls due to the complications I am experiencing caused by the hepatitis-c virus.” Thanks! Any help in sharing it around would be much appreciated. > > All power to the people
As I’ve pointed out in my previous writings, Hepatitis C kills more Amerikans each day than HIV and sixty other infectious diseases > combined, making it the deadliest infectious disease in the United States. It is a viral infection, caused by the Hepatitis C virus (“HCV”) that affects the liver and can result in serious, life-threatening complications. On February 15 of this year blood tests revealed that I had Hepatitis C. In contrast to NCDAC’s Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) for the > treatment of Hepatitis C, I was sent back to my cell, instead of having further blood testing done to determine my fibro-scores. I was provided no further information, other than that I had Hepatitis C and that I would be seen by the facility’s healthcare provider at a later date. The following days were mentally exhausting. Only after consulting with a prisoner who was receiving treatment for HCV at the time, did I become aware of the procedures that are in place for evaluating and treating prisoners who have the Hep-C virus. Before treatment can be started, additional blood testing is required to determine one’s level of fibrosis. This is called a fibrosure test, which is a non-invasive test that measures liver scarring caused by the Hepatitis-C virus, resulting in scores which correspond to the 0-4 point Fibrosis (scarring) scale: <0.21 = stage F0 – No fibrosis 0.21-0.27 = stage F0-F10.27-0.31 = stage F1 – Portal fibrosis 0.31-0.48 = stage F1-F2 0.48-0.58 = stage F2 – Bridging fibrosis with few septa 0.58-0.72 = stage F3 – Bridging fibrosis with many septa 0.72-0.74 = stage F3-F4 0.74 = stage F4 – Cirrhosis
After becoming aware of the aforementioned, I immediately began to submit sick calls requesting the required blood testing be done to determine my fibro-scores. My sick calls went unanswered, only after those of you on the outside made calls to the prison on my behalf was I taken to medical to have the fibrosure test done. The test results revealed that my fibro-score was 5.7, which indicates that I am at risk of cirrhosis, liver disease and/or liver cancer. However, the health care provider has yet to begin my treatment. These fibro-scores were revealed to me on March 3, subsequently I’ve not been assessed by medical personnel since, despite submitting multiple sick-calls due to the complications I am experiencing caused by the hepatitis-c virus. Since early March I have lost approximately 30 pounds, I have various pock-like scores on my lower legs, rashes cover my elbows and knees, and the sharp pains in my lower back and side make it difficult to sleep at night. When I inquire about my treatment, the response I receive is that it is out of their hands. I am firmly convinced that they have no intentions of treating me. Combined with the recent continuation of my term on supermax, it’s evident that their intentions are to hold me incommunicado and hope that the hepatitis-c will do what they have been unable to do – silence me! Having to openly admit that I am at the mercy of my overseers infuriates me. I feel helpless and I am scared. I’m witnessing what is being done to Komrade Rashid, I witnessed the late elder Maroon Shoatz languish with cancer for years, Mumia Abu-Jamal continues to suffer from complications caused by hepatitis-c, the names go on and on. I feel as if my twenty-year prison sentence has become a death sentence. I entreat that calls be made and emails be sent on my behalf, demanding that I be treated immediately. Only if pressured by those of you on the outside will these miscreants act with professionalism.
Below is the contact information for those who should be contacted:
NCDAC’s Deputy Secretary – Comprehensive Health Services
Gary Junker
919-838-3861
gary.junker@dac.nc.gov
Chief Deputy Secretary – Rehabilitative and Correctional Services
Maggie Brewer
919-733-9313
maggie.brewer@dac.nc.gov
Facility’s lead nurse
Rowe
jacqueline.rowe@dac.nc.gov
I am deeply grateful for the support. I conclude this as I began, Daring to struggle, daring to win.
All power to the people,
Joseph “Shine White” Stewart
Mongoose Distro 