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Waukesha County inmate claims lack of medical care in custody caused cancer

Posted at 7:50 PM, Feb 22, 2018
and last updated 2018-02-22 23:13:18-05

WAUKESHA, WI - An inmate in the Waukesha County Jail said he was denied medical care while in custody.

He said it wasn't until TODAY'S TMJ4's Call 4 Action office got involved that he received proper medical attention.  

Mark Ording claimed he was jailed for about six months and spent the majority of the time in unbelievable pain. He said he couldn’t walk, he could barely talk and when he was finally taken to the hospital last week he said doctors diagnosed him with cancer. 

“I was being punished for being sick," Ording said. "All they had to do was just take me to the hospital."

Ording was arrested and taken into custody at the Waukesha County Jail in September. He said he has a preexisting medical condition involving his gallbladder but claimed the jail never looked into his medical history. 

“They don’t want to spend the money," Ording said. "It’s wrong and something should be done about it."

After suffering for months Ording said he called on the help of his family. His sister, Sue Kuphal, contacted the Call 4 Action Office —Call 4 Action then called the Waukesha County Jail and the jail eventually granted Ording hospital care at Waukesha Memorial Hospital where Ording said doctors diagnosed him with cancer.   

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“I don’t know where cancer came from," Ording said. "[The jail] caused the cancer as far as I’m concerned by neglecting me."

Ording said he lost over 50 pounds while jailed because he couldn’t eat and he’s now preparing for surgery. He was granted probation until he’s medically stable to finish his sentence —but despite all he’s going through Ording wants to ensure other inmates don't have to suffer the way he did. 

TODAY'S TMJ4 also reached out to the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department —officials weren't prepared to issue a statement before the story aired Thursday, but they do assure all inmates have access to medical care on a 24/7 basis.