Summary
holding that plaintiff did not establish constitutional violation where plaintiff received extensive medical treatment, but treatment was not entirely to his liking
Summary of this case from Birckbichler v. Butler County PrisonOpinion
Civ. A. No. 93-6898.
December 30, 1993.
Edward Tyrone Farley, pro se.
MEMORANDUM
Plaintiff has filed a pro se Bivens-type action against a doctor and the Warden at the Federal Correctional Institution at Schuylkill. Plaintiff is alleging, in essence, that he did not receive effective medical treatment for a back injury.
In Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388, 91 S.Ct. 1999, 29 L.Ed.2d 619 (1971), the Supreme Court recognized a direct cause of action under the Constitution against federal officials for their role in the violation of constitutional rights.
With his complaint, plaintiff filed a request for leave to proceed in forma pauperis. As it appears he is unable to pay the cost of commencing this action, leave to proceed in forma pauperis is granted.
To make a colorable claim of medical treatment so inadequate that it violates the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment, plaintiff must allege not mere "inadvertent failure to provide adequate medical care," but "deliberate indifference to serious medical needs." Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 104-105, 97 S.Ct. 285, 291, 50 L.Ed.2d 251 (1976). When a physician exercises professional judgment, his behavior does not violate a prisoner's constitutional rights. Brown v. Borough of Chambersburg, 903 F.2d 274, 278 (3d Cir. 1990). Plaintiff's statement of claim indicates that he was provided with extensive medical treatment. Plaintiff states that he injured his back on May 14, 1993, while playing basketball at the prison. He signed up for sick call and was given x-rays and medication on May 17, 1993. During the next few weeks, he continuously reported to the medical department and was given more medication. Finally, on June 25, 1993, he was taken to a hospital where he received an operation on his back. Since plaintiff received medical treatment, albeit not entirely to his liking, it does not appear that his constitutional rights have been violated. Accordingly, the complaint will be dismissed as legally frivolous pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d).
An appropriate Order follows.
ORDER
AND NOW, this 30th day of December, 1993, it appearing that plaintiff is unable to prepay the costs of commencing this suit pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a), it is hereby ORDERED that:
1. Leave to proceed in forma pauperis is GRANTED; and
2. This complaint is DISMISSED as frivolous pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d).
AND IT IS SO ORDERED.