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Political leaders spar over level of health care at Cuyahoga County Jail

Two weeks after a whistleblower expressed safety concerns at the county jails due to a nursing shortage, top Cuyahoga county leaders disagree on the quality of care for inmates.

CLEVELAND -- Top Cuyahoga county leaders lodged accusations of false statements over health care at the county jails, and called for a review of jail leadership.

Last month, Channel 3 News brought you the story of a nursing supervisor, who was removed from his post after going public with safety concerns due to a nursing shortage. Gary Brack claimed that during his tenure, it was not uncommon to see only 3 registered nurses on the night shift to care for as many as 2100 inmates.

"Something is going to happen to an inmate with that staffing level," Brack said. He claims that the nursing crisis is so severe, that inmates are lacking basic medical care. For example, diabetics are not receiving their insulin, and inmates with hypertensive emergencies go untreated.

The former director of nursing for the jail, Marcus Harris, also backed Brack's claims. Both blamed jail mismanagement.

Cuyahoga County Council President Dan Brady, and Councilmember Michael Gallagher, sent a pointed letter to County Executive Armond Budish, accusing the administration of "false statements and inaccuracies" about the level of nursing staff. The letter also called for a review of jail leadership.

Cuyahoga County Council letter to Armond Budish about medical care in county jail by WKYC.com on Scribd

Budish responded in-kind by letter, chiding Brady and Gallagher for airing their criticism by letter, "since my office is just down the hall from you."

He assured that prisoners in custody are provided high-quality medical care.

Response letter by Armond Budish to Cuyahoga County Council by WKYC.com on Scribd

The quality of medical care at the jail has been under scrutiny in years past. In 2010, the county and the jail's private health care provider settled a lawsuit claiming medical negligence of an inmate, for $4-million.

The inmate was R&B singer, Sean Levert.

Levert, the son of The O'Jays' Eddie Levert, and brother of singer Gerald Levert, died while in jail custody in 2008. He was jailed for non-payment of $90,000 in child support. Six days after being taken into custody, Levert died in the jail after being denied his prescription anti-anxiety medication.

The coroner ruled that the sudden withdrawal of the medication contributed to Levert's death.

The settlement with Levert's widow, Angela Lowe-Levert, was the largest of its kind at the time.

A decade later, there are new warnings about the health of the jail's health care.

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