Post by scorpion42 on Feb 20, 2009 11:24:39 GMT -7
Published: Friday, February 20, 2009
Monroe prisoner amputates own thingy
By Jackson Holtz
Herald Writer
MONROE -- A Monroe Correctional Complex prisoner with a history of mental illness was rushed to the hospital Thursday after his second attempt to cut off his thingy.
The prisoner, 49, already had amputated much of his genitals several years ago, prison spokeswoman Cathy Kopoian said.
On Thursday the man apparently used a razor blade to cut off what remained.
He was rushed by medics to Providence Regional Medical Center Everett with serious cuts to the groin, she said. Doctors there sent the man to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, the region's trauma center.
Prisoners are permitted basic necessities, including razors, under state law, she said. Prison officials didn't consider the man at risk to harm himself.
The man was convicted July 1, 1977, for aggravated first-degree murder, Kopoian said. He's serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole in the special offenders unit, a part of the prison reserved for treating prisoners with mental health issues.
Self-administered penile amputations are a dangerous and painful form of self-mutilation, said Dr. Thomas Walsh, a urologist at UW Medical Center, a specialty treatment center.
"It can be life-threatening," he said.
If blood loss can be stopped, the patient usually can be stabilized. Prison officials didn't know the prisoner's condition Thursday afternoon.
Whenever possible, doctors attempt to reattach the organ, a complicated and costly procedure, Walsh said. The success rate is typically around 50 percent.
Penile amputation is a rare condition and doctors in Seattle deal with only about one case each year, the urologist said.
This kind of self-mutilation typically is caused by psychosis, said Dr. Bruce Gage, the chief of psychiatry for the state Department of Corrections.
"People who cut themselves or hurt themselves are rarely trying to kill themselves," he said.
More often they are trying to bring about some kind of change or find relief from inner pain, Gage said.
Other psychiatric problems, including personality disorders, also can cause people to hurt themselves. It's most often not associated with people with gender identity issues, he said.
Treatments vary depending on the underlying condition, Gage said.
Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com
READER COMMENTS
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(No heading)
Worthless convict had an axe...gave his woody 40 whacks!!
Rich Kruml | Feb 20, 2009 5:48 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal
Solution
Very simple: issue him a machete and let him go after his other head. Much better use of tax dollars.
david coulter | Feb 20, 2009 5:37 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal
Hrmmm...
Well apparently this guy has some issues...I know of some interesting stories from the Special Offender Unit but I have never heard about this before. I think in the SOU the inmates should be closely watched due to the mental illness issues, but at the same time be allowed the typical grooming tools as other inmates. In Snohomish County I know that you are allowed a razor 3 times a week and you need to return them in a certain amount of time. This might be a good idea to implement at Monroe. Just a thought.
Matt Viger | Feb 20, 2009 12:29 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal
Amputation
Well, do ya think maybe this guy shouldn't have been given a razor? What if he had used the razor against another prisoner or staff?
Just another case of "prisoners have rights too" from the case files of the "bleeding hearts". Jeez, what a bunch of morons!
Monroe prisoner amputates own thingy
By Jackson Holtz
Herald Writer
MONROE -- A Monroe Correctional Complex prisoner with a history of mental illness was rushed to the hospital Thursday after his second attempt to cut off his thingy.
The prisoner, 49, already had amputated much of his genitals several years ago, prison spokeswoman Cathy Kopoian said.
On Thursday the man apparently used a razor blade to cut off what remained.
He was rushed by medics to Providence Regional Medical Center Everett with serious cuts to the groin, she said. Doctors there sent the man to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, the region's trauma center.
Prisoners are permitted basic necessities, including razors, under state law, she said. Prison officials didn't consider the man at risk to harm himself.
The man was convicted July 1, 1977, for aggravated first-degree murder, Kopoian said. He's serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole in the special offenders unit, a part of the prison reserved for treating prisoners with mental health issues.
Self-administered penile amputations are a dangerous and painful form of self-mutilation, said Dr. Thomas Walsh, a urologist at UW Medical Center, a specialty treatment center.
"It can be life-threatening," he said.
If blood loss can be stopped, the patient usually can be stabilized. Prison officials didn't know the prisoner's condition Thursday afternoon.
Whenever possible, doctors attempt to reattach the organ, a complicated and costly procedure, Walsh said. The success rate is typically around 50 percent.
Penile amputation is a rare condition and doctors in Seattle deal with only about one case each year, the urologist said.
This kind of self-mutilation typically is caused by psychosis, said Dr. Bruce Gage, the chief of psychiatry for the state Department of Corrections.
"People who cut themselves or hurt themselves are rarely trying to kill themselves," he said.
More often they are trying to bring about some kind of change or find relief from inner pain, Gage said.
Other psychiatric problems, including personality disorders, also can cause people to hurt themselves. It's most often not associated with people with gender identity issues, he said.
Treatments vary depending on the underlying condition, Gage said.
Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com
READER COMMENTS
Log in or register to post new comment | Log out
(No heading)
Worthless convict had an axe...gave his woody 40 whacks!!
Rich Kruml | Feb 20, 2009 5:48 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal
Solution
Very simple: issue him a machete and let him go after his other head. Much better use of tax dollars.
david coulter | Feb 20, 2009 5:37 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal
Hrmmm...
Well apparently this guy has some issues...I know of some interesting stories from the Special Offender Unit but I have never heard about this before. I think in the SOU the inmates should be closely watched due to the mental illness issues, but at the same time be allowed the typical grooming tools as other inmates. In Snohomish County I know that you are allowed a razor 3 times a week and you need to return them in a certain amount of time. This might be a good idea to implement at Monroe. Just a thought.
Matt Viger | Feb 20, 2009 12:29 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal
Amputation
Well, do ya think maybe this guy shouldn't have been given a razor? What if he had used the razor against another prisoner or staff?
Just another case of "prisoners have rights too" from the case files of the "bleeding hearts". Jeez, what a bunch of morons!