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Family reacts to contract extension at jail
A family and the community have called on Fulton County to make changes after a man died in a filthy, bug-infested cell. But they're not happy with the latest decision. Commissioners approved a contract extension for the jail's current medical provider. Why they expected something else.
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. - Despite multiple complaints and repeated coverage on the health services offered to inmates at the Fulton County Jail, commissioners unanimously voted to extend the current provider's contract.
The Fulton County Board of Commissioners put NaphCare's negotiated contract up to a vote on Wednesday. Not one person voted against it.
Last year, Lashawn Thompson was found dead, covered in bedbugs in a dirty cell on the psychiatric floor. An autopsy revealed he was "eaten alive" by the insects.
Jail records showed detention officers and medical staff at the jail noticed Thompson's deteriorating health but did nothing to help him, leading to his untimely death.
Photos revealed the horrific state of the cell he was being kept in.
Lashawn Thompson (FOX 5)
SHERIFF SHOWS DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS ON TOUR OF FULTON COUNTY JAIL
Sheriff Pat Labat, who took FOX 5 on a tour of the conditions of Fulton County Jail in April, said he gave NaphCare a detailed plan addressing the public's concerns with the facility and safety of its inmates.
Labat released a statement following the vote:
"The concerns that have come to light in recent months have not magically gone away or been resolved, but we are making progress. My intent remains to provide the best standard of care for inmates while also ensuring there are no gaps in service. On advice of legal counsel, this extension through the end of the year is the best option to meet those goals."
The amended contract extends the partnership until Dec. 31, 2023.