Shores 325025 v. Centurion Incorporated

District Court, D. Arizona·Decided August 13, 2020·No. 2:20-cv-00759·Unknown

Opinion

JDN WO Robert Heath Shores, No. CV 20-00759-PHX-DGC (CDB) Plaintiff, vs. ORDER Centurion Incorporated, et al., Defendant. Plaintiff Robert Heath Shores, who is confined at the Arizona State Prison Complex- Eyman in Florence, Arizona, brought this pro se civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against Centurion Health and Nurse Practitioner (NP) Siji Thomas. (Doc. 27.) Before the Court is Shores’ Motion for Preliminary Injunction, which seeks emergency medical treatment for his prostate. (Doc. 11.) The Court will deny the Motion for Preliminary Injunction without prejudice. I. Background In his First Amended Complaint, Shores alleged that he was, and continues to be, denied necessary medical care for a nodule on his prostate and worsening prostate-related pain and symptoms. (Doc. 27.) He named as Defendants NP Thomas and Centurion, the private company contracted to provide health care to prisoners in the Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC). (Id.) Shores stated that in 2018, while housed at a private prison facility, he underwent a pelvic ultrasound which revealed a nodule on his prostate, and the provider ordered an endorectal ultrasound. (Id. at 3.) In May 2019, before he received the endorectal ultrasound, Shores was transferred to ASPC-Eyman, where he immediately sought medical treatment for his condition. (Id.) Shores saw Thomas in August 2019, and Thomas submitted a request for an endorectal ultrasound, but it was not preformed. (Id.) Shores alleged that he has continued to suffer severe prostate pain and his condition is worsening, that he has submitted written requests for medical care, and that attorneys have written letters on his behalf seeking necessary treatment, but Defendants have failed to treat or monitor his condition adequately or provide physician-ordered treatment. (Id. at 3–8.) Shores stated that due to Defendants’ failure to treat his condition, he has had to have a Foley catheter placed with a leg bag, and he may require this device for the rest of his life. (Id. at 9.) In his request for relief, Shores sought money damages, declaratory relief, and injunctive relief in the form of necessary treatment from a cancer specialist. (Id. at 19–20.) On June 12, 2020, Shores filed his Motion for Preliminary Injunction, in which he states that he finally saw a urologist on April 25, 2020. (Doc. 11 at 2.) Shores alleges that he has not received the follow-up treatment recommended by the urologist, that his symptoms and pain have worsened, and that he has since had to be fitted with a catheter, which causes pain. (Id. at 3–4.) He requests an order directing Centurion to send him to a cancer specialist. (Id. at 4.) The Court ordered expedited briefing on the Motion. (Doc. 13.) After briefing was completed, the Court directed Defendants to file a Supplement to include Shores’ most recent medical records. (Docs. 30, 33.) II. Relevant Facts Shores is 35-year old man who has been in ADC custody since 2018. (Doc. 20-3 at 3.)1 He was initially housed at the Central Arizona Corrections Facility (CACF) in Florence, Arizona. (Doc. 11 at 1.) Medical records show that on August 30, 2018, Shores underwent a pelvic ultrasound, which revealed a 2.5 cm nodule on his prostate and bilateral 1 See https://corrections.az.gov/public-resources/inmate-datasearch (search by prisoner number for “325025”) (last visited July 17, 2020). hydroceles. (Id.; Doc. 22 at 6–7, 12.)2 On September 11, 2018, the treating provider, Dr. E. Thompson, entered orders for an endorectal ultrasound and for radiation and chemotherapy. (Doc. 22 at 6–7.) On October 8, 2018, Dr. Thompson noted in the medical record that there was no specialty provider for an endorectal ultrasound available. Therefore, a request for a urology consult was made. (Doc. 22 at 11.) In early May 2019, Shores was transferred from CACF to the ASPC-Eyman Cook Unit. (Id.) Shores immediately submitted a health needs request (HNR) advising medical of his condition and requesting that the medical unit assume treatment as ordered by Dr. Thompson. (Id.) On August 26, 2019, Shores saw Thomas. (Doc. 20-2 at 2.) At this encounter, Shores reported pain in his testicles and everywhere in the genitals, he informed Thomas that he has a nodule in his testicle, and together they reviewed the medical records from CACF, including Dr. Thompson’s Offsite Services Referral Requests for an endorectal ultrasound. (Id.; Doc. 22 at 1–2, 6–7.) Shores advised Thomas that the endorectal ultrasound had been ordered, but never done, and that the previous provider had recommended radiation and chemotherapy. (Doc. 20-2 at 2.) Shores also reported dribbling, pain when using the restroom, difficulty urinating, inability to empty his bladder, frequent urination, weight fluctuation, and worsening symptoms. (Id.) Thomas noted a small lump, less than .5 cm on the left testicle with no redness or swelling. (Id.) Thomas assessed “possible BPH [benign prostatic hyperplasia]/prostate cancer/epidydimal cyst/testicular cancer.” (Id.) That same day, Thomas submitted a consult request for an ultrasound of the scrotum and an endorectal ultrasound of the prostate. (Id. at 2–3.)

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