CHRISTOPHER JACKSON WAS A TWENTY-EIGHT (28) YEAR OLD AFRICAN AMERICAN MAN WHO HAD SICKLE CELL ANEMIA. HE HAD THIS CONDITION HIS WHOLE LIFE AND LEAD A RATHER NORMAL LIFE DESPITE HIS DISEASE. ON MAY 14, 1998 CHRISTOPHER JACKSON WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY BY POLICE ON DRUG RELATED CHARGES. HE HAD NO PRIOR CRIMINAL RECORD. UPON HIS JAILING MR. JACKSON MADE HIS MEDICAL CONDITIONS KNOWN TO POLICE, CORRECTIONAL FACILITY PERSONNEL AND MEDICAL CENTER PERSONNEL AND WAS THEN FOUND "FIT FOR CONFINEMENT". DESPITE HIS MEDICAL NEEDS BEING MADE CLEAR TO HIS CAPTORS, MR. JACKSON SUFFERED NEEDLESS PAIN AND ANGUISH FROM A LACK OF CARE AND PROPER TREATMENT CAUSING HIM TO SUFFER NUMEROUS MEDICAL CRISES FROM WHICH HE EVENTUALLY DIED ON JULY 18, 1998 IN THE NASSAU COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER'S INTENSIVE CARE UNIT.
ON JUNE 24, 1999 AT 11:00 A.M. IN THE PRESSROOM IN THE NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, FREDERICK K. BREWINGTON AND HIS STAFF WILL JOIN WITH GRETA JACKSON AND THE FAMILY OF CHRISTOPHER JACKSON AND CONDUCT A PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING THE FILING OF A 8 COUNT, 22 PAGE LAWSUIT IN UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT, AGAINST THE COUNTY OF NASSAU, THE NASSAU COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER AND SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS OTHERS. THE BASIS OF THIS CIVIL RIGHTS LAWSUIT IS THE IMPROPER CARE, MEDICAL MALPRACTICE, VIOLATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS AND WRONGFUL DEATH OF CHRISTOPHER JACKSON WHILE IN THE EXCLUSIVE CUSTODY OF THE NASSAU COUNTY DEFENDANTS.
"IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT THIS FAMILY HAD TO LOSE THEIR LOVED ONE FOR NO GOOD REASON. PERSONS WHO ARE IN THE CUSTODY OF THE NASSAU JAIL SYSTEM ARE ENTITLED TO BE THE SAME LEVEL OF MEDICAL CARE THAT YOU OR I WOULD EXPECT. HOWEVER, THE RECENT HISTORY OF THE JAIL AND THE MEDICAL CENTER IS THAT FAR TOO OFTEN PEOPLE CHECK IN BUT THEY DON'T CHECK OUT." IN JANUARY OF 1999 THE NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION OF CORRECTION ISSUED A FIVE (5) PAGE REPORT REGARDING THE DEATH OF CHRISTOPHER JACKSON, THE COMMISSIONER, THOMAS J. GOLDRICK RECOMMENDED THAT THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE MEDICAL CENTER "CONSIDER THE APPOINTMENT OF A CORRECTIONAL HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATOR TO SUPERVISE AND COORDINATE HEALTH CARE SERVICES RENDERED TO INMATES IN THE HOSPITAL OR CORRECTIONAL FACILITY." THIS RECOMMENDATION CAME AFTER THE COMMISSIONER FOUND THAT "THERE WAS NO CHRONIC CARE TREATMENT PLAN DEVELOPED TO MANAGE [MR.] JACKSON'S SICKLE CELL DISEASE".
MR. JACKSON'S MOTHER, GRETA, STATED, "THE ONLY REASON WHY MY SON IS NOT HERE TODAY IS THAT THE COUNTY JUST DID NOT CARE FOR HIM WHEN HE WAS SUFFERING AND DID NOT RENDER THE EXPECTED AND NECESSARY CARE TO MEET CHRISTOPHER'S MEDICAL NEEDS. WE ARE ANGRY THAT WE HAVE LOST OUR LOVED ONE AND HOPE THAT THIS LAWSUIT WILL FORCE THE COUNTY TO TAKE STEPS TO ENSURE THAT NO OTHER FAMILY IS HURT THE WAY WE HAVE BEEN HURT"
PRESENT AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE WILL BE MR. JACKSON'S PARENTS, GRETA JACKSON AND LEEPOLEAN JACKSON, AS WELL AS ATTORNEY FREDERICK K. BREWINGTON, ALONG WITH MEMBERS OF HIS STAFF.