Pregnant Pauls Valley mother dies in jail
PAULS VALLEY, Okla. – A Pauls Valley family is forced to deal with tragedy after a 33-year-old mother dies from a medical condition while being held at the Garvin County jail. The victim in this case is Jamie Lynn Russell.Jamie also used the last name of Fisher.
Her death came just hours after she went to the hospital seeking help for severe abdominal pain.
“Jamie was seeking help; she was in extreme pain,” family friend Kemper Kimberlin said.
Hospital staff reported Jamie wouldn’t cooperate, in too much pain to even lie down, so employees asked a Pauls Valley police officer to assist.
Unfortunately, when police found two prescription pills that didn’t belong to Jamie, police took her to jail for drug possession.
That’s where Jamie sat for less than two hours before being found unresponsive.
“There is nothing my staff in the jail could’ve done differently,” Garvin County sheriff Larry Rhodes said.
Sheriff Rhodes points out the hospital staff authorized Jamie’s release to their custody.
“She had a medical release from the hospital stating that she was fit for incarceration,” Rhodes said.
The state medical examiner’s office confirms Jamie died from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, where an embryo implants outside the uterus.
“It’s very regrettable for the family,” Rhodes said. “My heart and prayers go out to them.”
Still, those who knew Jamie blame the hospital staff, not the sheriff, for neglecting to care for the 33-year-old pregnant mother.
“We want to see this come to light,” Kemper said. “Something’s wrong and needs to be fixed.”
The sheriff did call in the OSBI to investigate.
A spokesperson for that agency said their investigation is basically complete.
They did not find any criminal wrongdoing on the part of the jail staff.
Angel Schoech8 hours ago
great case to sue the hospital
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Elizabeth Conley13 hours ago
This
is very worrisome. It's not unusual for adult women to be carrying
medications tat don't belong to us. I try to avoid it, because I
understand this is being increasingly demonized by our crazy police
state. We end up carrying these medications because we're the ones who
are the primary caregivers and we're the ones who pick up the
prescription from the pharmacy. If it's a controlled substance, we end
up placing it in our purses rather than leaving it in our cars because
we don't want an addict to steal them from the car while we're running
errends.
The war on drugs is taking far to heavy a toll on the lives of innocent Americans. We need a cease fire in this war, so we can live our sane lives in safety and peace. This poor woman should have been treated for her pain, not abused and neglected on so flimsy a pretext.
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Robert Holmén22 hours ago
I'm going to guess she didn't have any insurance so the hospital was itching for an excuse to unload her.
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Trixlette1 day ago
I
blame the hospital, if she was in that much pain, they could have given
her something to take the edge off it while they did tests to find out
what was wrong with her. I have medicine bottles in my purse that don't
belong to me, they are for my mother, in case I need them. Being in
that extreme pain, how could the hospital see fit to say she was good to
go, to be incarcerated? Just because she had two pill bottles on her,
and no tests were done to say she was on drugs, doesn't mean she took
anything. And even if she took someone else's pain meds, she was in
terrible pain due to her condition...... I would also say that the
police had a hand in this also, by not having her watched. They had to
either know she had medical problems, or she was on drugs overdosing... I
mean they would think that in their minds.... and did not watch her????
I am not a person that thinks law suit. I have had times where I could
ahve sued someone but don't think that is always the answer..... but
here, I think the family needs to sue both the hospital and the police.
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Trixlette1 day ago
When
I said I had medicine bottles in my purse for my mother, in case I need
them, I did not mean in case I need them for myself, I mean while
taking my mom where she needs to go and such, she forgets to grab her
meds, so I always keep them available for her, at 86 she forgets
sometimes.
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Elizabeth Conley13 hours ago
I
know. Most adult women carry prescriptions for children or elderly in
our purses. It's part of responsibility to others, and not something we
should be incarcerated over.
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spb11241 day ago
Effing COPS-needed to let her get help 4 the pain, and posibly assisted with getting her calm enuf, to be treated.
But NOooo, they gotta arrest her b4 being treated. DumbF%$%
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Paula NiBride1 day ago
This
is an outrage! The so-called medical "professionals" involved need to
lose their licenses, and the family needs to sue the hospital into
bankruptcy -- and then sue the arresting officers in civil court. Those
officers could have refused to arrest a woman who obviously needed
medical care! This woman DIED because she was in too much pain to lie
down???!!!!??? Remind me not to take my dog to Paul's Valley "Hospital!"
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Cindy Barnes2 days ago
Any
ideas on how to forward this story, along with all of our comments, to
Nancy Grace? She's like pit bull on steroids when it comes to matters
such as this. just a thought...
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Gural Glad2 days ago
READ closely & Answer clearly..LOOK.
Hospital staff reported Jamie wouldn’t cooperate, in too much pain to even lie down, so employees asked a Pauls Valley police officer to assist. Unfortunately, when police found two prescription pills that didn’t belong to Jamie, STOP HERE***U assist in the control of patient " AND FIND PILLS? DID THEY FALL OUT OFHER HAND POCKETT? ******R DID U THINK SHE WAS ON DRUGS BECAUSE SHE ACTED CRAZY???IS That an Illegal search???police took her to jail for drug possession LOOK****The sheriff did call in the OSBI to investigate. (He called a FREIND at OSBI They did not find any criminal wrongdoing Investigation u talk 2 all parties "who spoke 4 the dead; in this closed investigation??? U see probaliy not 1st time a paitient's been taking from hospital while trying to get help. Thats wht the nurse did not question her being arrested. They thought she was on drugs; so that fresked her when she should hav been getting help.
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AntonioBuehler2 days ago
This
is what you get when you mix parasitic cops who think that everyone is a
revenue target and an immoral drug war. This is shameful. This is a
prime example of what a free country does not look like.
+9
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Kemper Kimberlin2 days ago
There
seems to be some confusion here about the term "uncooperative". Jamie
called for an ambulance because she knew she was in way too much pain
and it had to be serious. She went there for treatment. Any non
cooperation was due to extreme pain, and I have been told that when you
are in that much pain, you are basically out of your mind. One does not
seek help so they can refuse it. It would be nice to hear from a medical
professional that is familiar with this sort of rupture.
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kearsten hall1 day ago
Having
gone through an ectopic rupture, I can vouch for how painful it can be.
I passed out 4 times after rupturing and prior to that was in pretty
agonizing pain. I was literally in tears and unable to stand upright.
Thankfully, it is rare to die from a rupture, but it does occasionally
happen. This could and should have been prevented! Those must've been
some severe prescription drugs to be immediately released and
imprisoned. I wonder what she had....I'll bet it was a pain pill! Shame
on everyone involved for letting her go untreated, brushing her
condition off without knowing what was even going on!
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Sherry Kimberlin2 days ago
I
took my husband to PVGH ER with a bleeding open head wound. No
patients around at the time. They told us to take a seat in the waiting
room. I am no fool when it comes to medical issues. I immediately
loaded my husband back in the car and took him to Norman. One more
question I have. St. Anthony's just recently bought PVGH. What do they
have to say about this tragedy?
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Gena Payne-Childress2 days ago
The
holding sail in garvin county jail is setting right in front of the
jailer where she died at. Pauls valley hospital is one of the worse
hospitals around their staff does NOT know how to care for the patients.
The nurses didn't even help my mother when she was there in pain
december! My grandmother was having signs of a heart attack when she was
there, she sat in the waiting room for three hours and the doctor just
told her to go see her family doctor. Jamie was one of my mothers
friends. and what Rhodes said wasnt even what happened. the officer was
"helping" jamie gather her stuff so she could leave and they found the
pills she WAS NOT in custody when they found them, they were going
through her self that's how they help people get their things, they go
through it and find something for you to be arrested.
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Angela Matissimo2 days ago
I
agree with the majority on this one! This hospital, knowing that this
girl was in excruciating pain, should have put her medical wellbeing
above anything else! THe officer could have arrested her officially yet
let her stay in the hospital to get treatment. The fact that this
hospital signed off on her...was HORRIBLE, plain and simple. I think
that they definately need to be sued! Doctors are so after that money
these days. Its hard to find one that actually cares about humans
anymore. If their papers dont show a problem, it doesnt seem to matter
if someone is in obvious pain.
Sue the heck out of this place!!!
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Cindy Barnes2 days ago
Well
Diana, you pretty much said it all. Except I would have probably used a
little more language not becomming to a lady. Known this woman and her
family for better than 30 yrs, and my heart breaks for them. And as far
as PVGH, well, I've NEVER ever heard anything but negative in regards
to their patient care. Worries me to no end that that's where my own
mother has been hospitialized lately for illnesses related to her COPD.
But if all we do as a community is be shocked, saddened, and mortified,
then this will certainly not be the last family that suffers this kind
of devestation. It is my hope that this tragedy can lead to REAL change,
and Jami Lynn's death wasn't in vain. Come on Garvin Co. Isn't it time
we do MORE than just be pissed off?
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Meg Funderburk2 days ago
my
doctors didnt take my ectopic pregnancy seriously either until it was
too late. i almost died three times. im sorry to hear that doctors also
ignored someone else and that it ended like this. my heart goes out to
her family. as much pain as a ectopic pregnancy is i can more than
understand why someone wouldnt be cooperating.
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kearsten hall1 day ago
Me,
too, Meg. The pain was crippling. The first Dr I saw diagnosed me with a
bladder infection, post-rupture...there I was with shoulder tip pain
and he says bladder infection, even though my urinalysis showed no sign
of infection...did he test me for pgcy? Nope...gave me a prescription
for antibiotics...
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Anonymous2 days ago
The hospital is responsible, should have never let her be taken into custody before doing all required test.
+3
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Stephanie Marler2 days ago
Every1
working in that ER that night needs the shit kicked out of them...
Sorry ppl every1 of u there are sorry and may GOD have mercy on you all.
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Deutcher Konig41 minutes ago
I
like your idea. Kick the living snot out of the staff involved in
releasing this young lady and likewise the overzealous dip stick cop who
saw fit to arrest a person in severe pain over a couple of pills. As
to God having Mercy? I don't want to trouble God on this one other than
to make sure the deceased gets a pass from the Son on Judgment Day.
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Diana2 days ago
ARE
YOU KIDDING ME?????????????????? THIS IS A PRIME CASE OF
MALPRACTICE..................................THIS YOUNG LADY SHOULD
HAVE BEEN TREATED IN THE HOSPITAL AND NEVER EVER SENT TO JAIL. IT'S A
GOOD THING I AM NOT HER FAMILY, I WOULD NEVER STOP. I WOULD TAKE THIS
TO THE SUPREME COURT IF I HAD TO. WHOMEVER WAS IN CHARGE THAT NIGHT IN
THE EMERGENCY ROOM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS LADIES DEATH. AS A MATTER OF
FACT, I AM SOOOOO OUTRAGES, I WILL BE WRITING A LETTER TO THE EDITOR IN
PAULS VALLEY......I AM SOOOOOOOOOO DISGUSTED......BESIDES, APPARENTLY
THERE WAS NOBODY THERE WITH A GOOD BEDSIDE MANNER, OR THEY COULD HAVE
PERSUADED HER TO CALM DOWN AND ACCEPT THEIR TREATMENT...
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Diana2 days ago
OUTRAGED..
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Shirlee Lehew2 days ago
Horrifing
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Ashley3 days ago
In these situations the autonomous choice of the patient conflicts with
the physician’s duty of beneficence and following each ethical
principle would lead to different actions. As long as the patient meets
the criteria for making an autonomous choice (the patient understands
the decision at hand), then the physician should respect the patient’s
decisions even while trying to convince the patient otherwise.
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Ashley3 days ago
You
can speculate all day long as to what is wrong with a pt but when they
absolutely refuse any treatment provided there isn't a damn thing the
staff can do, because if you do so and force that pt you can get your
damn ass sued for ASSAULT & BATTERY!! If the pt refused services
that were provided, the staff had no other option than to release her!
It's always the ignorant uneducated people who want to throw their
opinions out there who IN FACT do not know what really went on. There's
always 3 sides, in some cases, 4 sides to every story: the patient's,
the staff, the family's and the real story. I have to agree with M B!
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Kemper Kimberlin2 days ago
She did not refuse treatment...she refused to leave because she knew the pain was an indicator that something was bad wrong.
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Ashley2 days ago
Were you there? Did you know what went on?
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Anonymous1 day ago
Were you there, ASHLEY?
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Ashley15 hours ago
Reverting
the question back to me?! More than likely None of you were there! All
you're hearing, more often than not, is a ONE SIDED "STORY"! NOT the
TRUTH!
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Dot9 hours ago
Ashley,
you're right that this is a one-sided account. It's one-sided because
the person seeking treatment is DEAD. So the dead person's side isn't
being
heard at all - only the hospital and police.
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Raymond1 day ago
Yes
Ashley, we all know about "consent regulations", we also know about
being "discharged to the police" without proper testing being done. I
presume you are a medical professional and I presume you have had run
ins with uncooperative patients, but when anyone can see a patient that
is "uncooperative because of pain" some DUTY'S change and the care giver
is responsible for understanding the differences and acting
accordingly. In this case it is evident none of this happened, THE
WOMAN IS DEAD, what more proof of her pain is needed. HEADS SHOULD ROLL
ON THIS ONE, HOSPITAL AND COPS TOGETHER.
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Stephanie Williams3 days ago
The
hospital, PVGH, has neglected patients on numerous accounts. I have
several friends and family members who have been misdiagnosed or just
plain refused service. It's not due to patients, it's due to the staff.
For instance, an ex co-worker went in because she was having pain with
her pregnancy and it scared her. The ER staff told her baby had died and
that she needed to set up an appointment for a DNC. She decided to get a
second opinion, so she drove up to Norman where she learned that she in
fact did NOT lose the baby. The baby's heart rate was normal and the
baby was still moving around. Another, my brother-n-law took his toddler
in because she was sick and running high fever. They admitted my niece,
said she had pneumonia, then they decided it wasn't and said it was
RSV. It was either 1 or 2 days later they released them saying it was
only a cold and to give her Tylenol and Motrin. My dad went in with
chest pains several times, they'd "treat" him then send him home. Turned
out my dad had LUNG CANCER and he passed away 3 years ago in February.
This is only 3 of the many incidents I personally know of, but I'm sure
there are countless others. I'm sorry, but I would not send anyone
there, EVER!
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Brandy Owens-Griffin3 days ago
I
dont see how they found no wrong doing by the jail staff...they all
knew she was in pain! she died right in front of them! how about check
on someone sitting directly in front of u. last time i was in garvin
county they paid attention to what i was doing and saying in the holding
cell right in front of them and i wasnt having any complications! Wow
i'm so glad i got outta garvin county before my i give birth to my
child. I left just in time! Sooo sad!
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M B3 days ago
The
point is that they didn't know she was dying because they couldn't run
any tests due to her uncooperativeness. This is a tragedy, yes, but
there really wasn't alot the hospital could have done. Calling the cops
for help is standard operating procedure for all hospitals when a
patient comes seeking traetment but won't allow the staff to actually
treat them.
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Kemper Kimberlin2 days ago
She
could not get up on the table due to pain. MB, is it standard procedure
for a police officer to assist in medical situations inside an ER, or
is that left for hospital staff? Just curious.
+5
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Sherry Kimberlin2 days ago
Jamie
called the ambulance herself. She did not refuse treatment. She just
could not get on the examining table because of her pain. When the
sheriff arrested her, she did not want to leave the hospital. The
attending physician deemed her fit for incarceration and released her
into the sheriff's care.
+3
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Kemper Kimberlin2 days ago
In all fairness, it was a PVPD officer that arrested her and took her to the Sheriff's jail.
0
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kearsten hall1 day ago
If
she was on the verge of rupturing while at the hospital, there is no
way she could've climbed onto an exam table. I remember how much pain I
was in with my ectopic. Right before rupture, I felt so sick. I wasn't
sure if I was going to puke or what was going on, so I managed to make
it to the bathroom very carefully. Once there, I sat down and broke out
in such a sweat, felt sick all over, like when you have stomach flu, but
worse. I felt really dizzy and totally out of it, and then, all of a
sudden, I was out. I woke up on the bathroom floor in absolute agony and
bleeding. You know pain and trauma are real when you black out multiple
times. I never want to relive that. I feel so sad for this young woman,
barely older than me, and her family. This could easily have been
avoided. Pathetic care was obviously the downfall here....she should
never have been discha
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