Michigan Woman Whose Husband Had Cancer In Prison Loses Lawsuit

ADRIAN, Mich. (AP) — A woman who blamed prison medical staff for failing to diagnose her husband’s cancer has failed to persuade an appeals court to revive her lawsuit.

Jeff Barrett, 59, of Newaygo County died of lung cancer in 2015, a month after he was released on parole.

Judith Barrett claimed prison staff in Adrian violated her husband’s rights by not finding the cancer in time, despite multiple appointments for breathing problems and other health woes.

But a medical expert testified that the cancer could have developed after staff viewed a chest X-ray, which revealed only a pulmonary disease.

A federal appeals court recently affirmed a decision to dismiss Barrett’s lawsuit.

Judith Barrett “understandably mourns Barrett’s death, especially given his untimely passing right after he was paroled,” the appeals court said. “But the record contains no genuine issue of material fact on whether defendants were deliberately indifferent.”

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