A federal judge has ordered the state Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry to ensure an autopsy is completed for an inmate who died June 30.
The same judge had issued an injunction, requiring Arizona to improve its prison health care system.
The ruling came after the judge found the death of inmate Santos Silva might have been related to poor care for a hernia surgery.
U.S. District Judge Roslyn Silver says his death may be related to compliance of the injunction she ordered.
Another inmate reported that Silva repeatedly attempted to get follow-up care after the surgery but was denied by the prison medical contractor, NaphCare, over a staffing shortage.
Following the judge’s order, the Corrections Department reportedly got in contact with the Yuma County attorney and county medical examiner to complete the autopsy. Results are expected in six to eight weeks.
