The BCCLA is calling for B.C. Corrections to provide a prisoner with dentures as the man has lost a dramatic amount of weight after a prison dentist pulled his remaining teeth. Reza Eshghabadi‟s first language is Farsi. He has limited understanding of English. He claims that during two dentist appointments in the prison no translator was present and his remaining teeth were extracted without his consent. As a result of this procedure, he can no longer wear his pre-existing dentures.
Requests by advocates on his behalf demanding dentures be fitted and supplied to Mr. Eshghabadi since January 24, 2010 have been denied by B.C. Corrections. Since being restricted to eating only soft foods, Mr. Eshghabadi has lost eighteen pounds, now suffers from chronic stomach pain and digestive problems, and has also been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. In addition to the health consequences of his modified diet, Mr. Eshghabadi‟s ability to communicate, including his limited abilities in English, has been extremely impaired.
“Provincial law provides that inmates at provincial prisons must be given „access to health care.‟ Rules like that are in place because we, as Canadians, insist on standards for what our corrections officials are to do. We know that failing to address health care needs of a prisoner can make a sentence unconscionably harsh,” said BCCLA President Robert Holmes, “To incarcerate someone and then deny them the means to eat and communicate is wrong.”
When internal grievance processes were exhausted, lawyers for the prisoner filed a judicial review application. The B.C. Attorney General‟s Ministry succeeded in having the January 2011 hearing adjourned to March 1, 2011.
“Canadians have provided in law that prisoners should be treated with dignity,” said Holmes. “In light of Mr. Eshghabadi‟s complaint, B.C. Corrections‟ practices and whether it is doing its job in a proper manner generally should be investigated.”
Read Mr. Eshghabadi’s affidavit about living without teeth here
See the exhibits to Mr. Eshghabadi’s affidavit, 1 of 2 here
See the exhibits to Mr. Eshghabadi’s affidavit, 2 of 2 here
MEDIA CONTACTS:
David Eby, Executive Director, (778) 865-7997
