Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1996. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
San Francisco Chronicle - The Voice of the West, 901 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94119 - Tuesday, September 17, 1996 - Page A22
Glen Martin, Chronicle Staff Writer
But the department admitted that Samuel Ali, 22, was held in his cell and was not placed in the jail's medical unit September 4, nearly seven weeks after he was incarcerated.
Ali, who is being held for allegedly selling $15 worth of marijuana to an undercover police officer July 18, claimed that he had been denied repeated requests for a physician's examination during his jail stay. Ali claimed he was examined only by nurse practitioners.
But Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Eileen Hirst said yesterday that Ali received proper medical treatment during his incarceration.
Joe Goldenson, a physician in charge of jail medical services for the Department of Public Health, said Ali was seen by a physician September 5, but the inmate did not cooperate with medical authorities.
"He would not let us draw blood to determine his HIV status, and he gave us inconsistent stories in regard to his medical history," said Goldenson. "(We were) able to determine he had a brain tumor, but it did not appear the tumor was consistent with some of his complaints (of paralysis). We think he may have been extrapolating the symptoms to get out of jail."
Goldenson said he was able to discuss Ali's medical condition yesterday because he had received written consent from the inmate, something he didn't have last week.
"It's also important to point out that both inmates and the community at large are seen by nurse practitioners rather than physicians for ongoing care," said Goldenson. "If a patient needs a higher level of care at the jail, he gets it."
Ali was transferred Wednesday to the jail ward at San Francisco General Hospital.
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