Car Thief Wants to Stay in Jail to Receive Free Cervical Cancer Treatment
Friday March 2, 2007
A Tacoma, WA woman has chosen to stay in jail over going to drug rehab. Her reasoning? To get free health care to treat the cervical she was diagnosed with in jail. Many are calling this a manipulation of the system, and demanding reform.
Melissa Matthews, the 20 year old prisoner, is an admitted drug user and dealer and convicted car and identity thief. Her lawyer claims that she would not be able to get treatment outside of jail, citing a problem with the health care system, not his client.
Melissa Matthews, the 20 year old prisoner, is an admitted drug user and dealer and convicted car and identity thief. Her lawyer claims that she would not be able to get treatment outside of jail, citing a problem with the health care system, not his client.
Comments
Let’s put the question a little differently: “Do you think that Melissa Matthews should be left to die of an untreated cancer because she has no money?”
I don’t feel sorry for this person. Look at all the woman suffering from this same disease, BUT, because they don’t have insurance they aren’t being treated, and they have been leading good lives not doing drugs or car jacking. I say put her in rehab and do from there. If she’s done this before, chances are she’ll do it again. So why waste tax payers money on her.
Frank, that’s a bad way to put the question, because that’s not it. Lot’s of people with cancer don’t have money for treatment.
The question should be, should we be rewarding criminals with medical treatment with citizens who’ve committed no crimes at all die?
As for the idea that she couldn’t afford it from not being able to work from prison: bull. There are worker programs in prison. Odds are a person like her couldn’t make enough money outside of prison anyway. Also, she put herself in there by breaking the law, it’s her fault, not the state’s.
I can’t believe they pay prisoner’s medical bills, that’s ridiculous. I say prisoner’s assets should be seized to pay for prisoner needs.