serious and terminal illnesses admitted in. a deposition that he sexually abused three patients 11996, said Ellen Barry, director of legal services for Prisoners With Children in San Francisco. At least one victim was so weak that she could not move enough to defend herself, Barry said.
Two weeks ago, the head medical officer at Valley State Prison was reassigned to a desk job in Sacramento after explaining to a network news program why his staff was giving pelvic exams to inmates complaining of headaches. He said the women enjoyed the procedure because "it's the only male contact they get."
Terhune said some of the steps taken to improve medical care include hiring more doctors and nurses and increasing access to medications.
The biggest challenge, he said, is finding and keeping good doctors, nurses and mental health staff 'willing to work in penitentiaries.
"We've done abetter job lately of recruiting medical staff, but I'm still not satisfied," Terhune said.
As for the allegations of sexual abuse, Terhune said the department is in the midst of a months-long internal investigation.
don't know at this point if the problem is widespread or not," he said. "That's what we're in the process of trying to determine."
The department is also reviewing 4dtwork on every pelvic examnotion done at Valley State Prison over. the past few years to determine Whether there is a pattern of unnecessary exams.
Dr. Anthony DiDomenico, the medical director at Valley State since 1995, told ABCs Ted Koppel in an Oct. 5 interview, "I've heard inmates tell me that they would deliberately like to be examined. It's the only male contact they get."
The 71-year-old doctor said it was not uncommon for women to complain of being ill when a pelvic exam "is what they want."
A prison official, however, said that two-thirds of such exams are performed by female nurse practitioners.
The doctor's comments will air during a six-part Nightline series on both Chowchilla prisons.