holding that administrative or custody officials who have no training or authority to supervise healthcare officials cannot be held liable for those officials’ inadequate care
How later courts described this case
- holding that administrative or custody officials who have no training or authority to supervise healthcare officials cannot be held liable for those officials’ inadequate care
- noting that “if a prisoner is under the care of medical experts . . . a non-medical prison official will generally be justified in believing that the prisoner is in capable hands.” (quoting Spruill v. Gillis, 372 F.3d 218, 236 (3d Cir. 2004))
- holding a correctional officer was not deliberately indifferent when he, among other things, contacted a doctor regarding an inmate’s medical condition and received assurances regarding the inmate’s medical status
- “[I]f a prisoner is under the care of medical experts . . . a non- medical prison official will generally be justified in believing that the prisoner is in capable hands.” (quoting Spruill v. Gillis, 372 F.3d 218, 236 (3d Cir. 2004))
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
KETHLEDGE, J.,
concurring in part and dissenting in part.
I agree with the majority on all but one issue. Specifically, I would affirm the district court’s denial of qualified immunity to Westgate. Unlike Dye&emdash;who I think pres *541 ents a close case, but who at least showed concern by putting Smith in a padded cell and calling Dr. Stickney — Westgate basically took no action at all during his four-hour shift on the night before Smith died. I also think he had ample time to observe Smith’s condition, and that Stickney’s “advice” to Dye — which was dubious to begin with — was becoming pretty stale by the end of Westgate’s shift. Thus, I agree with the district court that “[a] jury could conclude that Westgate’s delay in providing medical care to Smith under the circumstances could constitute deliberate indifference.”
On that issue, then, I respectfully dissent. Otherwise I concur in the majority’s opinion.