by Krystal Paco

Guam - The District Court of Guam issued a decision and order on Friday on the state of healthcare at the Department of Corrections.

The order requires the territory of Guam to adopt and begin implementing within 30 days DOC's core health care policies, procedures, and protocols that were developed and revised by the parties, to specify in writing within seven days its plans for providing healthcare to inmates and detainees while medical staffings positions remain vacant, to report to the United States and the independent monitor all serious medical events within 24 hours of occurrence, and to produce a detailed plan within 90 days for maintaining professional healthcare and security staffing levels that reflect the growing population of DOC.

In response to the recent testimony made during status hearings last month, the federal court also finds that DOC does not have a tuberculosis crisis or a mental health crisis. The court does however note that it is unable at this time to determine if a medical and dental crisis exists.

In addition, the court orders that the DOC director provide a breakdown of numbers for sick calls, suicide attempts, referrals to GBHWC, and an update on the hiring progress of medical staff and correctional officers. The first of these status reports shall be filed on June 17 and every two weeks thereafter until the next status hearing scheduled for September 3.