Urgent Health Campaign for Robert Seth Hayes #74-A-2280

Robert ‘Seth’ Hayes is one of the longest-held political prisoners in the USA.

A former member of the Black Panther Party and the BLA, in 1973, following a shootout with police, Seth was arrested and convicted of the murder of a New York City police officer, and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. Seth has always maintained his innocence. Jailed for over 30 years, Seth has long since served the time he was sentenced to and while in prison he has worked as a librarian, pre release advisor, and AIDS councilor. He has remained drug and alcohol free throughout his entire period of incarceration and has maintained a charge free record in prison. Seth first came up for parole in 1998, but prison officials have refused to release him, and are effectively punishing him for having been a member of the Black Panther Party, and of having remained true to his ideals after 40 years behind bars.

As is the case with many political prisoners from the 60s/70s high tide of struggle, Seth is dealing with the reality of growing older behind bars, with all the substandard medical care and health hazards that that implies. Most recently, the following action alert showed up in my inbox, explaining why it is important that people contact the prisoncrats to insist that Seth be given a proper medical work-up, as he has lost a 40 lbs. over just the past few months, a very worrisome sign that something might be wrong.

Please take a minute to read the following talking points, an make a call.

Talking Points:

Robert Seth Hayes is currently 65 years old. We are requesting an appropriate medical work-up in an outside facility for abnormal weight loss, because Mr. Hayes has lost 40 pounds in the last 3 months and currently weighs only 140 pounds max. 40 lbs of weight loss in a few months is very concerning for cancer and cancer needs to be ruled out. This is most urgently needed for Seth’s health right now. This weight loss is acute and clearly urgent.

Mr. Hayes was first diagnosed with Type II diabetes in the year 2000. In the 13 years since then, DOCCS has been completely unable to control his blood sugar levels. At the time he was diagnosed, Mr. Hayes was at Clinton. He was transferred to Wende in 2003 and then to Sullivan in 2010.

Throughout this time, Mr. Hayes’ sugar levels have either soared to the 300 to 400 levels or been extremely low, in the 50 to 70 levels, both life-threatening. Mr. Hayes also has Hepatitis C, for which he is currently not receiving any treatment. Diabetes is an insidious disease, and the constant sugar fluctuations can lead to renal failure, coma or stroke.

NYS DOCCS states on its website that denial of adequate medical care is a violation of a person’s eighth amendment constitutional rights, as this would be cruel and unusual punishment. Of course, adequate medical care would include a diabetic diet, which is absolutely not provided by NYS DOCCS. Additionally, they refuse to allow food package items such as diabetic cookies and candies.

Since NYS DOCCS has been completely unable to control Mr. Hayes’ sugar levels during the past 13 years, the community requests that he be taken to an outside medical facility for a complete diagnosis and adequate care.

Of course, if Robert Seth Hayes had been released on parole instead of having 15 years added to his sentence by the NYS DOCCS Parole Board, he would be a free man today and would have better access to adequate medical care than he currently does.

Please write, call, fax and email the following people and insist that Robert Seth Hayes, DIN No. 74-A-2280, be taken to an outside medical facility as soon as possible. If you are a doctor, nurse, or any other kind of medical personnel, please use your letterhead. Please email nycjericho@gmail.com <mailto:nycjericho@gmail.com> and let us know what response you receive. Also, if you are able to find out any additional phone or fax numbers, we will be grateful for the information.

Acting Commissioner Anthony J. Annucci
NYS Department of Corrections
and Community Supervision
Harriman State Campus, Building 2
1220 Washington Ave
Albany, New York 12226-2050
Phone: (518) 457-8126

Carl J. Koenigsmann M.D.
Deputy Commissioner/Chief Medical Officer
NYS DOCCS Division of Health Services
Harriman State Campus, Building #2
1220 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12226-2050
Phone: 518-457-7073
Fax: 518-457-2115

Elizabeth Ritter
Assistant Commissioner for Health Services
NYS DOCCS Division of Health Services
Harriman State Campus, Building #2
1220 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12226-2050
Elizabeth.Ritter@doccs.ny.gov <mailto:Elizabeth.Ritter@doccs.ny.gov>

Division of Health Services
Nancy A. Lyng, MS, Director of Health Services
Operations and Management
Harriman State Campus, Building #2
1220 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12226-2050
(518) 445-6176

Sullivan Correctional Facility
P.O. Box 116, 325 Riverside Drive
Fallsburg, NY 12733-0116
845-434-2080
Patrick Griffin, Superintendent