Arnett v. Webster

Dist. Ct. erred in dismissing for failing to state cause of action plaintiff-prisoner's action alleging that defendants-prison medical officials deliberately failed to treat his rheumatoid arthritis through use of drug that had previously been successful in treating plaintiff's condition. Record contained some evidence that, in spite of plaintiff's frequent requests for said drug, defendants chose easier and less efficacious treatment without exercising professional judgment. As such, defendants' alleged conduct satisfied deliberate indifference standard to extent that record also showed that said defendants continued over 10-month period to use ineffective course of treatment. Dist. Ct., however, properly granted summary judgment in favor of defendant-prison medical supervisor, where record showed that said defendant had only brief interaction with plaintiff throughout instant course of treatment and gave medical treatment to plaintiff at time before said treatment was known to be ineffective.