Prince Fosu

Neglect contributed to the death of an immigration detainee died naked and emaciated in ‘strip cell’ – others remain at risk

I was concerned about this story, having moved out of London to Cornwall, and aware that those looking after those vulnerable inmates, didn't have the time to spend with those inmates. As my mother in law who is in a hospital finds, those who are in at night are much more pressurised. and staff do not have the time to be concerned about those patients. I feel that we need to take responsibility for this, how many people will remember his name:

Prince Fosu died on 30th October 2012, 6 days after being detained at Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre (IRC). He suffered undiagnosed, untreated psychosis and related bizarre behaviour, dehydration, malnourishment and hypothermia. He died alone, on the concrete floor of a ‘strip cell’ in segregation with no mattress, having had little if any food, fluid or sleep.  He was naked, emaciated, and covered in debris.
Prince Fosu had been found running down a street with no clothes on. He was arrested and sent to Harmondsworth IRC.  There was a complete failure by guards and doctors contracted by the Home Office to recognise that Prince was mentally ill, to follow immigration detention policies and to properly document and monitor his wellbeing. Where they existed, records included noting Prince Fosu’s “non-compliant” behaviour and that he “declined” food, fresh air, showers and to see doctors. 
The scale of the collapse of all ‘safeguards’ cannot be overstated. It happened at every turn, within Harmondsworth, the Home Office, healthcare, and the Independent Monitoring Board who acknowledge that Prince Fosu died “in plain sight”. None took purposeful steps to prevent Prince Fosu dying “in plain sight”. During the inquest many were unable to explain why they acted as they did; others gave explanations that were difficult to fathom.  3 doctors working for Harmondsworth have been reported to the General Medical Council for review.
Had proper assessment been undertaken and appropriate treatment provided, Prince Fosu may have lived.
Record Of Inquest For Prince Fosu
Verdict / Cause of death
Record of death :
"Sudden death following hypothermia, dehydration and malnourishment in a man with psychotic illness”
Further findings :
“The failure of Primecare staff to effectively see, assess and provide healthcare to Mr Fosu is inexplicable … Doctors contracted by the Jersey Practice showed insufficient professional curiosity throughout Mr Fosu’s detention.  This lacking in professional curiosity resulted in an absence of any kind of medical intervention which in turn contributed to Mr Fosu’s deterioration … GP  record keeping was inconsistent where notes did appear, there was a failure to record anything meaningful … there was gross failure across all agencies to recognise the need for an provide appropriate care in a person who was unable to look after himself or change his circumstances … this was in part due to the failure to address, recognise, monitor and respond to Mr Fosu’s deteriorating condition.  Neglect contributed to the cause of death.”
Emma Ginn, Director of Medical Justice said :
“Prince Fosu was dehumanised. The failure of individual professional responsibility in this case was staggering. IRC doctors, Home Office officials and guards treated Prince Fosu’s life with casual contempt and effectively watched him die right in front of them.  There is nothing to prevent it happening again tomorrow.
Policies were clearly not protective enough, and the training and supervision of staff was wholly ineffective.  On top of this the culture of disbelief pervading immigration detention had a fatal consequence.
One IRC doctor said they did not regard detainees in segregation as patients and that they were only there to ‘fulfil a Home Office legal obligation’. It seemed they stopped acting like doctors when they stepped into the IRC.
7 years on from Prince Fosu’s death, lessons have not been learned ; our independent volunteer doctors still see mentally ill detainees held in segregation who have become psychotic, suicidal, stopped eating and drinking, and lost mental capacity.  Furthermore, the Home Office argued to the end of the inquest that Prince Fosu may have died of natural causes.
Many detainees experience a potentially lethal cocktail of medical mistreatment, severe deterioration of their already vulnerable health, and dangerous conditions. Since Prince Fosu’s death, some Home Office policy changes have made detention more harmful and 30 immigration detainees have died, including 4 at Harmondsworth.   
 Immigration removal centres should be closed before another detainee dies.”  
Mr V (detained in 2019 and previously held in segregation in Harmonsworth IRC) said : 
“The inquest into Prince's death just brings back the feelings of neglect, lack of empathy, lack of care and the sheer practice of brutality in the most open form with no repercussions. Having experienced this myself first hand I feel like Fosu's death could easily have been my death."