"the People's Paths home page!" Leonard Peltier Nov '98 Health Update!

Leonard Peltier Still Has Not Been
Transferred to Mayo Clinic!
"We need to keep the pressure
on the Bureau of Prisons!"

"Springfield already stated they do not have the
staff and/or equipment to treat Leonard. Doctor
Keller, of the Mayo Clinic has written the
prison telling he is willing to treat him!"

Information Courtesy of the,
The Leonard Peltier Defense Committee
November 1998 Update!

          Leonard Peltier is currently suffering from complications of a previous maxilla-facial surgery which he underwent at the Springfield Medical facility in 1996. Because of this he is in continuous, excruciating pain which not reside until he is properly treated.
          As a child Leonard stepped on a nail and got tetanus causing him to get lockjaw. He also broke his jaw once and it never healed correctly. He has had jaw problems ever since. He was transferred to Springfield Medical Facility in 1996 to have these problems corrected. During his surgery he almost died and his jaw has been in worse condition then it has ever been.
          Leonard cannot open his mouth enough to bite his food. He also is unable to chew his food. He must force food through a gap in his front teeth and then mash it with his tongue in order to eat (the prison refuses to blend his food). He has put in several requests to see an outside physician, and Doctor Keller, a renowned maxilla-facial surgeon from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota has written the prison telling them that he is willing to treat Leonard, but prison officials have denied all requests. Leonard refuses, of course to be transferred to Springfield and will take no risk that could allow this to happen.
          The facility at Springfield has already stated that they do not have the staff and/or equipment to treat Leonard. Therefore, it is Leonard's legal right to choose an outside physician to treat him.
          Currently legal actions are being taken in order to get Leonard the care that he needs. Meanwhile we must write letters to our state representatives, the Bureau of Prisons, and to the warden at Leavenworth requesting that Leonard see Dr. Keller from the Mayo Clinic. Make it clear that a transfer to Springfield Medical Facility would be totally out of the question. Mention Leonard's health whenever writing government officials. Needless to say Leonard's suffering is a form of cruel and unusual punishment for a crime which he did not commit.