Humanity for Prisoners Supports Senate Bill 769 Following Growing Concerns Over Prison Medical Communication
Date Published
On May 14, Humanity for Prisoners’ Office Manager, Carmen Fluit, testified alongside other Michigan advocacy organizations before the Michigan Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety Committee in support of Senate Bill 769, legislation focused on emergency medical notification and medical information access for incarcerated individuals and their loved ones.
The hearing comes during a time of growing concern surrounding medical transparency and communication within Michigan prisons.
Just last week, many across the state were grieving the death of Khaira Howard at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility. Her death followed other recent tragedies reported throughout Michigan prisons, raising continued concerns surrounding medical care, emergency communication, transparency, and conditions inside correctional facilities.
At Humanity for Prisoners, we regularly walk alongside incarcerated individuals during some of the most painful moments of their lives, including medical emergencies, serious illness, and end-of-life situations.
Too often, those impacted by incarceration find themselves facing confusion, silence, and barriers while trying to obtain medical information.
This is why legislation like Senate Bill 769 matters.
During testimony before the committee, Carmen Fluit emphasized the importance of this proposed legislation: “It ensures that emergency contacts are notified immediately, that families know where their loved ones are hospitalized, and that approved family members can visit them when they are at their most vulnerable. This bill is about basic human dignity and transparency. It establishes a structured process that supports everyone involved while safeguarding security.”
One of the biggest issues repeatedly raised through advocacy work is that many incarcerated individuals do not realize medical authorization forms exist until a crisis is already happening.
Without completed authorization forms, loved ones may be unable to:
- receive medical updates,
- communicate with healthcare officials,
- receive emergency notifications,
- or advocate for treatment and care during critical moments.
Education surrounding these forms is critically important. The more incarcerated individuals understand how medical authorization processes work, the better equipped they are to advocate early, communicate during emergencies, and seek help when serious health concerns arise.
Increasing awareness and access to these forms may help people intervene sooner and potentially prevent future tragedies.
No one should have to fight through confusion, silence, or unnecessary barriers during moments of medical emergency, serious illness, or grief.
At Humanity for Prisoners, we remain committed to advocating for transparency, compassion, dignity, communication, and education for those impacted by incarceration.
Because every person matters.