Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1992. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
San Francisco Chronicle - Thursday, October 1, 1992
The inmates, dissatisfied with the number of doctors available, refused to take certain medications in an effort to call attention to what they claim is a growing problem at the California Medical Facility at Vacaville, said Lieutenant Rita Montez, a prison spokeswoman.
She said the inmates agreed to resume taking their medicines after discussions with prison officials, who agreed to recruit more physicians. The protest began September 21 and ended Saturday. The medical facility currently has three physicians trained in treating AIDS patients, Montez said.
When one of them is not available, the staff uses its other doctors to treat the patients. About 300 inmates in a population of 3,200 have tested positive for HIV, the AIDS virus.
Sam Miller, a lawyer who has been involved in litigation seeking to improve conditions for HIV-infected inmates, said he and other lawyers are investigating to determine the level of medical care the prisoners are receiving.
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