Former prison inmate Roger Bott has undergone a kidney transplant he says was made necessary because of poor medical care in prison.
Bott, 33, Provo, underwent the surgery Tuesday at University Hospital in Salt Lake City. His brother, Larry, 29, donated one of his kidneys.The former oil-field worker was serving time for aggravated assault and theft in the Utah prison system in 1989 when he developed blurred vision.
Seven weeks went by, he says, without adequate medical attention. In the meantime, his blood pressure soared and his kidneys were irreparably harmed.
Bott was paroled in December 1990. He sued prison officials and medical personnel.
In November 1992, a Salt Lake jury awarded Bott $490,000 for his medical bills - but nothing for pain and suffering or for punitive damages. Third District Judge John Rokich cut the award to $250,000, the cap set by state law on judgments against public employees.
Bott has received nothing, and the issue remains on appeal.