JAZAN — A diabetic prisoner died in a public hospital and his relatives demand an investigation into his death. Lt. Gen. Abdullah Al-Harbi, spokesman for the General Directorate of Prisons in Jazan, said the inmate had developed gangrene on his feet and was shifted to Sabya General Hospital as a result. "The inmate went into a coma and was taken to the intensive care unit. He died 12 days later. The family of the inmate demanded an investigation claiming that his condition worsened while he was in prison. They refuse to receive the body until an investigation was carried out," said Al-Harbi. He added before the inmate was shifted to the Sabya hospital he was under treatment at the prison's clinic. Jazan Health Affairs spokesman Nabil Ghawi said the inmate was transferred from the prison's clinic to Sabya General Hospital after he had gangrene in his feet. "According to the regulations of the Ministry of Interior, inmates are given priority when transferred to public hospitals and there is a ward dedicated for them in the hospital. The ward has eight beds and medical staff readily available to treat any condition it receives," said Ghawi. "The prisoner arrived at the hospital in a critical condition suffering from bleeding in the brain, nonreactive pupils and gangrene in his feet. The inmate finally suffered a stroke, which took his life," he said. National Society for Human Rights' general supervisor in Jazan Ahmad Al-Bahkali said the society followed up with the case during the inmate's treatment and requested him to be transferred to another hospital. "We saw that it was ideal for the patient to be transported to a specialist hospital with better equipment and resources. The hospital did not respond to our request," said Ghawi. Jazan Tarahum Committee Head Ali Zalah said the committee's purpose is to care for inmates and their families. "We have formed a committee to follow up with the inmate and his condition. We had taken all necessary precautions, but death is the decision of God. The inmate was destined to die and there was nothing more we could have done," said Zalah.
