Georgia Man Claims Medical Negligence at Atlanta Jail Led to Amputation

A man from Georgia shared on Wednesday that he experienced severe trauma due to alleged medical neglect at an Atlanta prison. This neglect, he claims, resulted in the loss of a finger and part of his leg.

Rashad Muhammad was arrested in August and taken to Fulton County Jail. His attorney stated that jail medical staff failed to provide him with crucial antibiotics and other supplies despite his repeated requests.

His condition deteriorated rapidly; within two weeks, he became unable to stand and had to be rushed to a hospital. There, doctors informed him that amputation was necessary to save his life.

“It’s not okay. Every day is a battle,” Muhammad, now reliant on a wheelchair, mentioned to reporters after meeting with Sheriff Pat Labatt.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Muhammad, described their meeting with the sheriff as “like returning to a nightmare” where his daily prayers seemed unreal. He stated that Muhammad’s treatment exemplified “deliberate indifference” and a violation of his constitutional rights.

Over the years, Fulton County Jail has faced numerous issues, leading to a civil rights investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2023. The findings indicated that inmates were kept in filthy and hazardous conditions, violating their rights.

Last year, the Justice Department and county officials announced they had entered a court-enforceable consent decree, allowing independent monitors to evaluate conditions within county jails.

Crump expressed that the Fulton County Commission should bear significant responsibility for Muhammad’s situation, stressing that they were aware of the issues yet did nothing to rectify them. He suggested that a new jail is necessary, a notion the sheriff supports. Recently, the commission voted to borrow around $1.3 billion for jail improvements, which include building a new facility and renovating the current one.

In addition, Crump accused the prison’s medical provider, Nafcare, of ignoring Muhammad’s calls for assistance. He cited another incident where a detainee died in a bedbug-infested cell in 2022, arguing that Nafcare should no longer operate in the jail.

Muhammad found the meeting with the sheriff “productive” yet inadequate. Crump mentioned that they are calling for a criminal investigation regarding the events leading up to the amputation.

Additionally, Muhammad’s legal team is exploring all legal options to seek justice and hold those accountable. His other lawyer, Lisa Park, indicated that he uses a catheter due to a chronic bladder issue, increasing his infection risk, and always has vital medical supplies on hand.

Park recounted that Muhammad, who faced charges related to a shooting on August 11, initially called 911 but was arrested for aggravated assault and gun possession instead. He informed officers of the antibiotics he had in his car. After being taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, he was returned to jail where he reiterated his need for medical supplies. As he grew increasingly ill, fellow inmates also urged staff to assist him.

Crump revealed that when Muhammad was taken back to the hospital on August 22, he was in “severe medical distress.” Waking from a coma weeks later, doctors informed him that his hands and feet were severely infected, and amputation was necessary; as Crump stated, “it’s more about life than limbs.” Muhammad underwent multiple surgeries and spent several months in recovery.

Park noted that the criminal charges against him were dropped while he was still hospitalized.

Contact has been made with the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office for further comment.