Jailhouse Physician Named in Wrongful Death Suit

By Brittany Golledge

Published on January 20, 2006

The deceased, Anthony Snyder, was being held in county jail on burglary charges for approximately a month prior to his death. During that period, he was examined three times by jailhouse physician Dr. Stephen Cullinan. On January 25th of 2004, Snyder was transported to Franklin Hospital by ambulance after his attorney arrived at the jail and found him in a comatose state, unmoving and unable to speak. Hospital officials told Snyder's family that he had lapsed into a coma and was experiencing organ failure. He died 48 hours later.

According to the lawsuit, Cullinan examined Snyder six hours prior to his transport to the hospital, ruling out his symptoms as "voluntary behavior." A medical report written by Cullinan on that day indicates that Snyder was non-verbal and unresponsive, and had been failing to take medication, food, or drink. The report ended with a prognosis from Cullinan that blamed Snyder's lack of responsiveness on self-destructive behavior.

Snyder's family is asking for $50,000 on two separate counts of negligence and medical malpractice. The suit alleges that jail officials should have recognized Snyder's symptoms and that Cullinan was negligent in dismissing these symptoms and failing to order treatment. Cullinan was added as a defendant this week after depositions from jail personnel indicated that their non-action was based on medical findings from Cullinan.

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