Warden Domingo Uribe, Jr.
Centinela State Prison
Imperial, California

Re: Immediate Medical Treatment and Transfer—Romaine Fitzgerald—B27527

Dear Warden Uribe:

This is a demand that you immediately provide Romaine Fitzgerald the emergency medical treatment he needs and transfer him to a proper medical facility for care. Your denial of this urgent treatment and care is a blatant denial of his Constitutional rights, for which the California prison system has already been reprimanded by the Order of the federal district court.

Mr. Fitzgerald, who has been incarcerated for 40 years and is now 60 years old, has made a request for a medical transfer numerous times because he is suffering extreme spinal pain and is partially paralyzed, arising from a stroke he experienced in 1998. Indeed, over three years ago, prison doctors recommended corrective surgery, and, recently your own doctors supported that recommendation. Every day his condition worsens on account of the barbaric conditions under which you presently house him in your administrative segregation unit. The report of Dr. Marie Branch, based upon her examination of Mr. Fitzgerald in July of this year, confirms that the metal bed, extreme isolation and denial of proper exercise and denial of a neck support or even a pillow in that unit exacerbate his deteriorating condition. Indeed, I believe if you continue to refuse to provide Mr. Fitzgerald proper treatment, he will soon suffer permanent paralysis.

The Committee to Free Chip Fitzgerald is prepared to pay for any and all costs related to the services of a private doctor to treat Mr. Fitzgerald. The Honorable Thelton E. Henderson, District Court Judge, and his appointed Receiver, J. Clark Kelso, are copied on this letter to alert them of these serious concerns and encourage them to closely monitor your response.

Very truly yours,

Name ________________________

Address ________________________
________________________

Telephone/Email ________________________

cc: J. Clark Kelso, Receiver, California Prison Health Care Services
Matthew Cate, Secretary, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
The Honorable Thelton E. Henderson, Judge, United States District Court
Edmund G. Brown, Jr., Attorney General, State of California
Prison Law Office, San Quentin, California