Lebanon, PA — Victoria ‘Tori’ Herr died in Lebanon County Correctional Facility last month after police hesitated to provide her with medical care for several days. Herr was addicted to heroin and began to go into withdrawal when she was taken into custody.
This is a situation that can be potentially deadly if not handled with care. Sadly, the corrections officers at the jail accused her of “faking,” and refused to get her medical care until it was too late.
According to the family, Tori may have been abused by the officers while she was in custody. On a petition page for Tori, a loved one mentioned the abuse, saying that,
“On arrival, she was not given a medical physical. No one addressed her addiction. She went into heroin withdrawal that turned out deadly. She had begged for help but was denied. The guards said she was faking. Before she was taken to a hospital, they abused and neglected her in horrific ways that are better left unsaid. She had laid in a coma for five days before she died on April 5th, Easter Sunday.”
The police department said in a statement that “all protocols were followed” and that there was no wrong-doing in the girl’s death.
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22 comments:
Don't do drugs and you won't die from it. No compassion here.
Agree 1:10, but bottom line is that you can't "withhold medical care".
Agree, she got herself in it.... But again, I am sure Officers see this every day... Best thing to have done, we seek medical care and let the experts decide....
back to the "abuse of power" situation across America.
It is truly amazing how people are so cold unless they are in the exact situation. Used to be an old saying that I rarely hear anymore which is "put yourself in their shoes". Burying a child whatever the circumstances are SO GROSSLY AND SELFISHLY UNIMAGINABLE to me. I am sure officers are sick and tired of seeing the drug epidemic, but it's not their decision to decide who is faking... Get Medical Expert opinion then go from there... Why didn't that happened? They had more paperwork to do??!! Overstepping their power and abuse of power is all across America. If limits were set to these officers, we wouldn't see so much mistreatment.
If i was in their shoes, I would put drugs in my body. Good riddance.
If doing drugs...means a "death sentence" then all you supporting Pot Smokers deserve the same!!!
People in glass houses always the first to cast stones!!
Of course this is all based on what her parents said happened so some degree of inaccuracy is to be expected.
It sounds like dehydration may be the cause of death as brain swelling was indicated which is a complication related to dehydration.
She wanted lemonade and it wasn't provided. The question then becomes was water or another beverage provided.
It is really becoming ridiculous and a drain on not only LE but also hospitals, because so many individuals who are in custody are requesting medical care. Most turn out to be unfounded, an overwhelming majority as a matter of fact.
If you don't believe me or the cops, then refer to the medical journals on this subject.
If she was free she could've got more dope or went to the hospital. But she wasn't. She was custody of the state held in a county jail. Everything must be treated as real. And they should know that dooers need attention when coming off. It is irresponsible to just toss a doper in a cell for days without medical supervision.
"Anonymous Anonymous said...
Don't do drugs and you won't die from it. No compassion here.
May 18, 2015 at 1:10 PM"
I have to agree. She was in jail because she was caught along with her boyfriend of having over 60 bags of heroin in their apartment.
How many children of other parents lives did SHE end or turn into a living hell.
Her bail was 50,000. Why didn't her so now concerned mother bail her out.
Heroin withdrawal in and of itself is not a medical emergency. A small town hospital and a lot of others including urgent care centers aren't going to do anything for opiate withdrawal except show you the door and possibly tell you to call you primary care physician.
Like stated above, the number of those requesting medical care while in custody is becoming epidemic. Most if not all are unfounded this because when care is needed the arrestee doesn't have to ask or can't ask.
Officials-detention facilities, LE- have to use their own judgement as their aren't enough physicians in some hospitals to treat everyone who says they are in some type of distress and others who are in need of care end up suffering due to those who cry wolf.
302..i have never heard of anyone overdoseing on weed. Smart people never do anything but weed and even smaerter people never do any drugs at all. Sorry you apparently have close ties to drug addicts. I know it is one of the most heartbreaking things. But find some comfort that just about everyone has them now. You are not alone
5:13-You can overdose on marijuana, while marijuana is not toxic, it can and has caused death. One of the symptoms of an overdose is a fast heart rate which has caused something known as sudden and unexpected death.
Without medical intervention there would be a whole hell of a lot more deaths caused by marijuana.
Acute opiate withdrawal is not associated with life threatening effects so consequently transporting someone to a hospital for withdrawal symptoms doesn't occur. Heroin withdrawal is managed in detoxification programs.
Thank God we don't have any addicts in our family including extended. No criminals or anything. I don't know how we lucked out. God is good.
I know...people are just dropping off like flies from weed. Such a tragedy....pffft..ypu need to get outta here with that.
Your a load of crap. The cases you speak of were from underlying conditions.
Sorry but she did this to herself. Just another junkie death.
" Anonymous said...
I know...people are just dropping off like flies from weed. Such a tragedy....pffft..ypu need to get outta here with that.
May 18, 2015 at 6:34 PM
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Your a load of crap. The cases you speak of were from underlying conditions.
May 18, 2015 at 6:37 PM'
Think as you please and I will not debate you until you get your:
B.A. from Cornell U,
an M.D. from Tufts U School of Med,
AND
an MPH from Harvard U School of Public Health.
Until then you are not qualified to give an opinion.
She did the drugs herself! And, I'm so anti-drug, I agree they have to take responsibility. But, where is the responsibility on the officer's part. I know they are tired too, but come on!!
5:58....you have NO credibility.
Not a SINGLE PERSON IN HISTORY has EVER overdosed on marijuana.
Not one.
God what is wrong with you people. She was a human being! If she asked for medical help regardless of the problem it should have been provided. I am anti-drug too but they should have done their job.
Often, addicts are codependent on more than one class of drugs....for example benzodiazapines (xanax, valium) which can cause severe and harmful withdrawals that can lead to death if no medical attention is received. Alcohol withdrawals can also kill. Opiate withdrawal does not directly cause death, as many of you have already stated.
I get that most of these replies are apathetic towards the addict, but addiction is a recognizeable disease regardless of your opinions.
Just a thought.....
Or you are unlucky enough to have a lot of good liars...unless you are a family of 2 and you drug test each other. Why make such an irrelevant comment?
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