Tried eight times to get medical treatment for late spouse
By Evelyn Red Lodge
Native Sun News Correspondent RAPID CITY — A wrongful death complaint has been filed against the United States after a Standing Rock Sioux Tribe resident passed away after being turned away eight times from the McLaughlin Indian Health Service for medical treatment. Paul Archambault alleges in his complaint that his deceased wife Harriet Archambault had her hypertension medication filled at the IHS in late October 2007 and was not given a follow-up appointment for a noticeable increase in her blood pressure sooner than three months out. The complaint also alleges Mrs. Archambault’s health began to deteriorate with symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pains, and dizziness. She attempted to get a medical appointment from the IHS eight times within a one month time span. She passed away on Nov. 27, 2007, from myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure according to other court documents. Court documents allege the reason Archambault was turned away is as “Mr. Archambault asserts that the McLaughlin IHS facility has a policy of seeing ten patients per morning and ten patients per afternoon on a first-come, first-served basis.” Archambault asserts in his complaint negligence on the part of federal employees for failing to reasonably screen, hire, investigate, train, and/or supervise medical (federal) employees such as Marie Claymore and [7] John Does. He also contends that McLaughlin IHS “is legally obligated to provide health care services to Native Americans by statutory and treaty mandate.” At this time, he is seeking a judgment for medical bills, attorney fees and much more “or a jury trial or trial to the court against the United States.” The complaint was first filed in the Western Division of Federal Court in August 2012, but the United States requested and was granted a change of venue to the Northern Division Federal Court late last month. (Contact Evelyn Red Lodge at welakota@yahoo.com)
Join the Conversation