Roman

BACKGROUND

In February 2017, while a state prisoner and a passenger in a state correctional vehicle, Roman suffered injuries to his shoulder, back, and neck in a vehicle accident. In July 2017, Dr. Andrew Hartman performed shoulder replacement surgery on Roman. After the surgery, Roman was prescribed methadone as a pain medication. In March 2018, Roman was transferred from the Pleasant Valley State Prison to the Sierra Conservation Center State Prison, where he continued to receive medication. First Grievance On May 26, 2018, Roman submitted a form CDCR 602 HC, Health Care Grievance, requesting (1) MRI’s of his back, neck and left shoulder and (2) a referral to a pain management specialist due to ongoing pain from injuries received in the vehicle accident. The grievance was assigned tracking number SCC HC 18000295. On July 2, 2018, Dr. Smith interviewed Roman about the grievance. On July 26, 2018, Dr. St. Clair signed the “Institutional Level Response,” which stated that, in view of Roman’s medical history, the requested MRI’s were not medically indicated and “there is not a compelling need for ongoing methadone for your chronic shoulder, back, and neck pain.” The response also…