Prison inmate claims he lost transplanted kidney because of poor medical treatment

A prison inmate yesterday claimed that he lost a transplanted kidney because of inadequate treatment by the authorities.

Christopher Bartolo, 36, from Fontana, last April was sentenced to five years in jail and fined €15,000 after he admitted to trafficking 1.5 kilograms of cannabis resin rather than undergo trial by jury.

The Criminal Court heard how Bartolo had resorted to cannabis as a form of painkiller following his diagnosis of end-stage kidney disease.

His condition had deteriorated and he ended up wheelchair bound. He had turned to drug trafficking.

While awaiting trial, Bartolo benefited from a kidney donation. Following the transplant procedure, he once again became gainfully occupied, settled down and set up a family.

He claims that all this progress was allegedly lost upon his admission to prison.

Denying him anti-rejection drugs normally prescribed to transplant patients as well as not having regular dialysis meant that the man’s transplanted kidney went to waste.

The inmate filed a judicial protest against the director of the Corradino Correctional Facility, the Justice Minister and the Attorney General.

They were called upon to ensure that Mr Bartolo received all the necessary medical care during his stay in prison.

Failure to do so signified that they would face criminal and civil liability for any negative consequences suffered by the applicant.

Lawyer Maxilene Pace signed the judicial protest.