An inmate at the Multnomah County Detention Center, Carlos Morris, died in January under troubling circumstances, leading to scrutiny over the care provided to individuals in custody.
Morris, 46, was booked on January 2 for allegedly stealing nearly $140 worth of nicotine gum.
Upon his admission, he informed the jail staff that he had smoked fentanyl the previous day and was experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
Five days later, medical personnel evaluated Morris due to concerns regarding withdrawal risks.
Records indicate he displayed symptoms including body aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea—common indicators of opioid withdrawal.
Notably, on the day prior to his death, staff observations detailed that Morris was “minimally responsive” and “covered in urine and feces.”
On January 8, after receiving Suboxone, a medication designed to assist those coming off opioids, Morris was found unresponsive around 12:15 p.m.
Attempts by jail staff and paramedics to revive him were unsuccessful; he was pronounced dead at 12:47 p.m., according to the medical examiner’s report.
The medical examiner identified the causes of death as dysrhythmia—irregular heartbeats—and hypovolemic shock, the latter resulting from significant loss of fluids and electrolytes due to diarrhea.
Chronic fentanyl use was noted as a contributing factor to his death.
The medical examiner’s office stated that “the severe fluid and electrolyte loss associated with the diarrheal illness led to significant dehydration, volume depletion, and electrolyte imbalances, particularly affecting cardiac function.”
These physiological imbalances are known to increase the risk of life-threatening cardiac issues.
Dr. Marc Stern, a corrections healthcare expert at the University of Washington, reviewed the county’s findings and suggested that Morris’s death could likely have been preventable with appropriate medical care.
While he noted the uncertainty of the situation, Stern stated that it seemed reasonable to conclude that hospital care and intravenous treatment might have saved Morris’s life.
In response to the incident, a Multnomah County spokesperson refrained from specific comments due to potential litigation.
Instead, the spokesperson highlighted ongoing improvements in jail management in response to recommendations from outside agencies.
Michael Crandell, Corrections Health Director, sent an email to staff following coverage of Morris’s death, expressing that the newspaper’s portrayal did not accurately reflect the quality of care provided by his team.
He stated, “This article does not properly represent the level of care and concern I know every member of our (Corrections Health) team provides to those we care for daily.”
Crandell did not offer further details when contacted by phone.
Morris’s family has since retained an attorney, Matthew Kaplan, to examine the county’s records for potential misconduct by county staff.
This incident marks the first of three inmate fatalities reported in Multnomah County in 2023, with subsequent deaths of Sharon Lee Watkins in May and Chad William Scott reported on Saturday.
image source from：oregonlive
