Doe v. Gustavus

On April 18, 2001, Jane Doe (plaintiff), who was incarcerated while pregnant, was informed that she would be transported to the hospital for inducement. Doe requested to be induced the following week instead. The request was granted, and although it was against policy to inform an inmate of an off-site appointment, the officer told Doe that the new date was April 25. Because of the policy breach, Captain Jeanette Gustavus (defendant) ordered Doe to segregated confinement. On April 21 at 1:00 a.m., Doe felt a wet discharge. A nurse examined the discharge but concluded that Doe’s water had not broken. Throughout the day and evening, multiple nurses examined Doe and concluded that she was in false labor. At 1:00 a.m. on April 22, Doe felt discharge again and pressed the emergency button in her cell. The prison staff was unable to reach the on-call doctor and contacted personnel at the nearby hospital. The hospital staff explained that if Doe was in labor, her abdomen would feel hard. At 2:00 a.m., a nurse examined Doe and concluded that she was not in labor because her abdomen was soft. Shortly after, Doe delivered the baby without any medical assistance, and Doe and the baby were transported to the hospital. Twelve hours later, Doe returned to the facility. Gustavus informed Doe that she believed Doe had forced the baby out so that she could leave segregated confinement. Gustavus ordered Doe be placed in maximum security, where Doe did not receive any postdelivery ice or pads until 7:00 a.m. the following day. In response to the lack of medical treatment received, Doe filed a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging that Gustavus and the staff had violated her constitutional rights by showing deliberate indifference to her serious medical needs. Gustavus and the staff motioned for summary judgment.