Ashley Ellis
Ashley Ellis was 23 years old. Her family said she was a straight-laced young woman, not a partier, and that her opiate addiction followed a back injury and treatment with opiate pain relievers. She was held at Northwest State Correctional Facility in Swanton, Vermont, and was found in her cell on August 16, 2009, then died at a hospital. The Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Vermont attributed her death to cardiac arrhythmia caused by hypokalemia linked to anorexia or bulimia nervosa and denial of access to medications. Disability Rights Vermont reported that her community doctors had sent her medical records and medication needs to the Department of Corrections in advance, but her potassium and Suboxone were not provided during her few days there, and concluded the death could have been prevented with better communication and planning between the department and its medical contractors.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (neglect alleged). The Chief Medical Examiner attributed her death to a hypokalemia-induced cardiac arrhythmia linked to anorexia/bulimia and denial of access to medications, and Disability Rights Vermont said staff and medical contractors failed to plan for her medication needs, so her potassium and Suboxone were not provided.
Reported by: Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Vermont (medical examiner or coroner); Disability Rights Vermont (advocates).