Spartanburg County’s Unseen Tragedy
It’s a tale of an early departure that continues to echo through the halls of Spartanburg County. Two years have passed since Lavell Lane, a man with Schizoaffective Disorder, tragically died alone in a padded cell at the local Detention Center. His family, still grieving, is now fighting an uphill battle to get justice for Lane.
Seeking Responsibility: A New Lawsuit Emerges
In the wake of their son’s untimely passing, Lane’s family has filed a new lawsuit – a legal endeavor that seeks to ensure Spartanburg Regional Health Services are held accountable for the role they might’ve played in Lane’s death. The poignant details of Oct. 3, 2022, starkly outline their contention: Lane suffered a fatal adverse reaction to an antipsychotic medication, administered by medical staff at the Detention Center.
State reports indicated surveillance footage captured the disturbing sequence of Lane twitching and enduring seizure-like symptoms in his cell for hours. However, tragically, it appears no staff checked on him until it was too late.
Earlier, in April 2023, Lane’s family had filed a lawsuit against the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office. The case, which denied any responsibility for inmate’s death in their custody, is still pending.
The Forgotten Cycle: Mental Health in Focus
The plot thickens as the new lawsuit describes a heart-wrenching history of mental health issues that plagued Lane. Notably, at the time of his arrest on Oct. 2, 2022, Lane had been in a back-and-forth cycle with the local hospital. The scenario would often play out like this: Lane would display violent or suicidal tendencies at his residential treatment facility, necessitating him to be transferred to the hospital. Medical staff at the hospital would then evaluate, and subsequently release him. According to the family’s legal representation, this alarming cycle transpired four times between Sept. 27, 2022, and Oct. 2, 2022.
The lawsuit further highlights that, during his last hospital admission, Lane was suicidal and experiencing visual hallucinations. Despite this, a staff member still made the decision to discharge him. The hospital staff, according to the claim, “failed to recognize the severity of Mr. Lane’s condition.”
Avoidable Tragedy: Detention Center Raises Questions
In a fresh twist, the detention center’s medical staff have found themselves in the crosshairs of this new lawsuit. This followed allegations of their evident negligence in observing the FDA guidelines, which require a trial administration before push comes to the actual medication.
Furthermore, the staff reportedly failed to monitor Lane for any signs of an adverse reaction to the treatment. These allegations, if true, could shed a damning light on the practices at the detention center.
Even though it’s been two years, Lane’s legacy carries on in this troubling quest for justice. As his family continues to fight their legal battles, one cannot help but question the system that could fail an individual in such a devastating manner.
Remembering Lavell Lane
In this age of modern healthcare and mental health awareness, we must continue to question and work towards addressing any flaws in our system. We owe it to the memory of Lavell Lane and countless others who may have potentially suffered a similar fate.
