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Inmate Claims Severe Neglect Led to Limb Loss
7 May
Summary
- Inmate Rashaad Muhammad alleges severe medical neglect at Fulton County Jail.
- Allegations include neglect leading to finger and leg amputations.
- The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is reviewing the claims.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is reviewing claims of severe medical neglect at the Fulton County Jail. These allegations come from Rashaad Muhammad, a former inmate arrested in August on aggravated assault and gun possession charges. Muhammad's attorneys state that jail medical staff and guards ignored his pleas for antibiotics and medical supplies, leading to a drastic deterioration of his health.
Less than two weeks after his incarceration, Muhammad's condition worsened significantly, requiring hospitalization where doctors determined amputations of his fingers and lower legs were necessary to save his life. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Muhammad, described the treatment as "deliberate indifference." The Fulton County Sheriff's Office has confirmed Muhammad was under the care of NaphCare, the jail's medical provider, but cannot comment further due to privacy laws.
This case emerges against a backdrop of long-standing issues at the Fulton County Jail. In July 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a civil rights investigation into jail conditions, citing filthy and unsafe environments. A consent decree was announced in January 2025, involving an independent monitor to oversee improvements.
While NaphCare expressed sadness over Muhammad's experience, the company maintains its staff provided appropriate care under difficult circumstances. Meanwhile, Fulton County officials are pursuing significant jail improvements, including borrowing up to $1.3 billion for new facilities and renovations, a move championed by some, including Commissioner Labat.
