Getting to the Heart of the Matter

I try to stay abreast of the news (local, state, national, and international.) I do this mainly from the headlines I glance over. Anything beyond that, can lead me to depression, anger, and despair. I guess, I believed by just grazing, this would suffice my need for civic duty and keep me from becoming emotionally charged. But...

I came across this article just a few minutes ago. I am sickened. I hurt for this man's family. I am enraged at the callousness and brutality that exists in a system that takes advantage and is downright negligent of the duty and responsibility that has been bestowed upon them by society (you and I) to care for the unlovely and unredeemed in our communities (the jailed, the forgotten, the outcasts.) There are laws and regulations in place to enforce this care, but we still have far too many stories like this. But perhaps not as bad as this particular one.

But, I am here to tell you, that no matter what a person does to get behind those bars, we (society) should be better than this! And we should also remember there are people that love those jailed, those forgotten, those outcasts.) There is absolutely no need for those families to be punished and disregarded. Especially in this heinous manner!

The article says, "Dotson's family brought claims of 8th and 14th Amendment violations, indifference to the man's medical needs and safety, conspiring to cover up deliberate indifference, interference with the family's right of burial, intentional and negligent mishandling of a corpse, intentional infliction of emotional distress, failure to notify next of kin and wrongful death."

The 8th amendment: "The protections offered by the 8th Amendment are still very relevant and important today. For example, overcrowded prisons often lead to unsafe and unsanitary conditions for prisoners. The 8th Amendment thus safeguards prisoners from violations of basic standards of living. In addition, since prisons by their nature are to some extent shielded from public view, prisoners can expect humane treatment from guards because of the 8th Amendment." https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-the-8th-amendment-definition-summary-cases.html#:~:text=The%20protections%20offered%20by%20the,of%20basic%20standards%20of%20living.

The 14th amendment: "Regardless, prisoners retain some constitutional rights, such as due process in their right to administrative appeals and a right of access to the parole process. Additionally, the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment applies to incarcerated individuals, protecting them against unequal treatment on the basis of race, sex, and creed, and the Model Sentencing and Corrections Act, created by the Uniform Law Commission in 1978, provides that a confined person has a protected interest in freedom from discrimination on the basis of race, religion, national origin, or sex. Prisoners also have rights to speech and religion, to the extent these rights do not interfere with their status as inmates." https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/prisoners%27_rights#:~:text=Additionally%2C%20the%20Equal%20Protection%20Clause,a%20confined%20person%20has%20a

"His apparent sudden death occurred on the same day he was to be considered for parole." https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12848399/Brandon-Dotson-Alabama-died-prison-lawsuit-heart.html

As a mother, I would want to know about my child's last moments. I would want the truth, no matter how hard. But here is what Brandon Dotson's mother got:

"The Alabama Department of Corrections released a statement on the incident last month. On Thursday, November 16, 2023, inmate Brandon Dotson was found unresponsive in his cell at Ventress Correctional Facility. He was transported to the Health Care Unit where medical staff conducted life-saving measures. Unfortunately, Dotson was not able to be resuscitated, and he was pronounced deceased by the attending physician." https://abc3340.com/news/local/federal-lawsuit-claims-inmates-body-not-properly-preserved-heart-missing-adoc-prison-alabama-autopsy-brandon-dotson

"When he was found dead, the family alleges, Dotson's "body had already begun to stiffen." https://www.yahoo.com/news/body-alabama-inmate-died-prison-175624577.html

As a mother, I would want the comfort of seeing my child's body as soon as possible, but here is what Brandon Dotson's mother got:

" 'For days the family attempted to claim his body after submitting the proper paperwork as soon as they were alerted to his untimely death. Finally, his body was released to his family nearly a week later on November 21, 2023. At this point the body had not been properly stored and was severely decomposed,' the lawsuit states." https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12848399/Brandon-Dotson-Alabama-died-prison-lawsuit-heart.html

"After filling out the necessary paperwork, then spending five days attempting to claim Brandon Dotson's body after his Nov. 21 death, per a lawsuit filed by daughter Audrey Marie Dotson and mother Audrey South, they saw "bruising on the back of [his] neck and excessive swelling across his head" when the corpse finally arrived." https://www.yahoo.com/news/body-alabama-inmate-died-prison-175624577.html

And lastly, as a mother, I would want to grieve my son properly, but this is what the mother of Brandon Dotson got:

"According to a federal lawsuit against the Alabama Department of Corrections, Dotson's body was missing his heart and his corpse was so badly decomposed the family was unable to have an open-casket funeral." https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12848399/Brandon-Dotson-Alabama-died-prison-lawsuit-heart.html

But, wait! How did the family find out about the missing body organ?

"The family “suspected foul play, in part because of the Alabama Department of Corrections’ extensive and ongoing violations of basic human and constitutional rights,” said the lawsuit. The family hired pathologist Dr. Boris Datnow to conduct a second autopsy on Dotson’s body. He had already undergone a first autopsy at the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, which is standard procedure for inmates who die in state custody. According to the lawsuit, Datnow discovered during his exam that Dotson did not have a heart." https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2023/12/dead-alabama-prisoners-body-returned-without-a-heart-family-says.html

So, the question begs an answer, "Where is Brandon's heart???"

"The lawsuit adds: 'To date, no one has explained to the family why Mr. Dotson's heart was missing when his body was turned over to them' and plaintiffs 'do not know where Mr. Dotson's heart currently is, or in whose possession." https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12848399/Brandon-Dotson-Alabama-died-prison-lawsuit-heart.html

"Defendants performed an autopsy on the deceased and removed the heart, thereby concealing the true cause of death. By taking this action, Defendants intentionally or recklessly destroyed or altered key evidence that deprived Plaintiff of the ability to determine how the deceased died through an independent autopsy,' the lawsuit states.

'The heart is a vital organ that would provide critical evidence in assessing the cause of death. Without the heart, Plaintiff cannot obtain an accurate and complete determination of the circumstances surrounding the deceased's death.'

Dotson family's attorney Lauren Faraino called it 'so grotesque and disrespectful and unacceptable' to take a vital organ from someone 'without the family knowing.'

The family believes the heart may have been given to the University of Alabama- Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine for medical research purposes by students." https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12848399/Brandon-Dotson-Alabama-died-prison-lawsuit-heart.html

I wish I could say that this is a stand alone situation, but unfortunately, it is not. Many other mothers have faced similar circumstances:

"The Dotson's join a growing list of families questioning how their incarcerated family members died inside Alabama prisons. A number have told ABC 3340 News they question claims about overdoses and fear their loved ones have been murdered." https://abc3340.com/news/local/federal-lawsuit-claims-inmates-body-not-properly-preserved-heart-missing-adoc-prison-alabama-autopsy-brandon-dotson