Dialysis Patient on Probation Says Justice System Did Him Wrong

[okarol]

Dialysis Patient on Probation Says Justice System Did Him Wrong

1/19/2007 11:48:28 AM

Written By: Brooks Ware

A Paducah dialysis patient on probation says what the justice system did to him ought to be a crime. Leroy Parker of Paducah says his medical condition landed him behind bars. Parker says when he could not provide a urine sample for his parole officer, he was immediately taken to jail. Parker is a diabetic.

Two years ago, his blood sugar got so low his kidneys failed. Bandages on Parker's arm cover the marks from dialysis he gets three times a week. "I'm waiting on a transplant."

In 2000, Parker spent two years in prison for third degree burglary and forgery. He was released on probation in 2002, and has met with a probation officer once a month for the past five years.

In Kentucky, parole officers can randomly drug test any of their parolees. That's where Parker's problem begins.

"I explained to him, I said, I don't have to urinate right now because I'm on dialysis and we can't urinate like that. We can't urinate on demand." Parker says he got to the parole office around 1 p.m. this past Tuesday.

He says his parole officer told him if he didn't produce a sample by 4 p.m., he'd go to jail. When 4 p.m. came around, Parker wasn't able to use the restroom, and was taken to the McCracken County Jail.

Parker, "I didn't refuse. I just told him I couldn't do it. So, I asked him, I said, let's go to the hospital and do blood. He said they don't do that over there."

Parker says he usually uses the restroom just once a day. He even got a note from his doctor informing his parole officer of his condition. "If I go in the morning, that's it."

And, after spending the night in jail, he did give his parole officer a sample. Parker says it came back negative. "I don't use drugs. I don't do any drugs."

Parker says he's not trying to break the law, but he believes they should have different rules for offenders with his condition, so no one else goes to jail for something they simply can't control. Parker says his parole is up February 7th.

NewsChannel 6 went to the parole office Thursday to get their side of the story, but it was closed.

URL: http://www.wpsdtv.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=F8AF4C2C-A488-4698-AFCB-6F45243D9247&gsa=true

[jbeany]

Actually, I have a hard time blaming the parole officer for this.  I'm sure he's heard every story in the book when it comes to cons trying to wiggle out of something.  And the average citizen does not know that dialysis patients rarely pee. 

Besides, would you believe the doctor's letter if the con handing it to you had been convicted of forgery?   

[BigSky]

Actually, I have a hard time blaming the parole officer for this.  I'm sure he's heard every story in the book when it comes to cons trying to wiggle out of something.  And the average citizen does not know that dialysis patients rarely pee. 

Besides, would you believe the doctor's letter if the con handing it to you had been convicted of forgery?   

The guy needs to sue over it.  No he doesn't deserve money but  just to get the PO's attention.

The PO was just being an a-hole. 

A simple call would have determined if it was a forgery.  In fact the PO would have and should have called anyway if he thought it was  a forgery because then it would give cause to holding the person for breaking probation because a forgery of a doctor on something like that would be a fed charge I believe.

[nkviking75]

I think the PO may have been a jerk, but I also think the patient should have anticipated this situation and gotten a letter from his doctor explaining the situation.