The asshole, in this story, spent over thirty years in solitary confinement. He killed three people AFTER he was in prison. I not going to shed any tears for him. There is only one reason I bring this up.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/federal-prisoner-solitary-confinement-dead

Thomas Silverstein, who was believed to have spent more time in solitary confinement than any other American federal prisoner, died from complications of heart surgery on May 11 at the age of 67.

The New York Times

Heart Surgery? This asshole was doing life in prison. Where is the ACLU to protest that heart surgery was cruel and unusual punishment? Had nature been allowed to take its course, Silverstein may have already shed the chains of bondage. By operating, the prison authorities likely extended his life and continued incarceration.

I have no problem with palliative care for inmates. I’ll even go along with life saving efforts due to traumatic injuries. I am not in favor of organ transplants, sex change operations, or heroic measures.

I think of all the gap toothed “free range felons” I ran across in thirty years of policing. Dental health was not a consideration, let alone a priority. That changed once they faced extended incarceration.

I guess there are shitheads out there that actually followed doctor’s orders. I never met any. Lung cancer, COPD or heart failure never stopped any of the felons I ran across from chain smoking. I haven’t even addressed their penchant for drinking, snorting or injecting anything that was reputed to cause a buzz.

I would be willing to bet, that left to their own devices, most free world felons do not avail receive the quality and quantify of health care that they receive in prison.

The prison authorities are in a no win situation. If they don’t provide the health care, they are unfeeling bastards. If the do provide health care they wind up with a bunch of geriatric prisoners and they are unfeeling bastards.

A life sentence can be six months, or sixty years and anything in between. A determinant sentence is not a guarantee of immortality. When the inmate is dragged out feet first, his debt is paid.

A judge in Dallas, Texas sentenced an inmate to 268 years in TDC.

The inmate protested, there was no way he could do that much time.

The judge is said to have replied, “Do the best you can!”