Harvey Weinstein has bone marrow cancer. What care will he receive in prison, and will it be enhanced?
Key Takeaways
Incarcerated Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein has been diagnosed with bone marrow cancer and will receive treatment behind bars.
Despite speculations that his wealth might afford him better treatment in prison, he may still face access barriers like other incarcerated patients with cancer.
Improving transparency about the quality of care accessible to inmates can help policymakers uncover and address opportunities to improve the prison healthcare system.
Harvey Weinstein, 72, a former Hollywood film producer—whose name stood at the epicenter of the sexual assault allegations that launched the 2017 #MeToo movement and is serving a 16-year sentence for his crimes—was recently diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), according to NBC News.[]
We can only speculate how Weinstein will fare through cancer treatment while incarcerated, and whether or not his considerable wealth (or known misdeeds) will impact the type of care he receives. MDLinx spoke with the experts to find out more.
About Weinstein's diagnosis
CML, a hematological malignancy characterized by the proliferation of myeloid cells in the bone marrow and blood, is relatively rare, with a 5-year survival rate of approximately 70%.[] The disease is classified into three phases: the chronic phase, the accelerated phase, and the blastic phase.[][]
Treatment for CML aims to slow the disease’s progression, reduce symptoms, and improve survival outcomes.[] Most CML patients stay on medications for life, but the long-term risk of damage to organs like kidneys, lungs, and liver (and the costs associated with ongoing treatments) are a top concern.[]
Patients with CML may experience fatigue, nausea, and stomach pain during the chronic phase, or headache, bone and joint pain, fever, bleeding, and infections during accelerated or blastic phases. Treatment for the chronic phase typically begins with TKIs, and most patients respond well to these treatments. Treatment options for more severe phases may include second- or third-generation TKIs, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), and chemotherapy with omacetaxine.[]
Will his care be enhanced despite incarceration?
Weinstein is no stranger to receiving medical care while in prison. Reports allege that just a month ago, he had emergency heart surgery to treat fluid buildup in his lungs and heart. In July, he was hospitalized for COVID-19 and double pneumonia. Currently, he is receiving treatment for bone marrow cancer at Rikers Island in New York, as reported by NBC News.[]
“Most carceral facilities contract with external providers for complex conditions such as cancer care,” Cary Gross, MD, Director of the Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy and Effectiveness Research (COPPER) Center at Yale School of Medicine, tells MDLinx. “The incarcerated individuals can go out to attend appointments or be hospitalized as needed.”
Despite the wealth Weinstein acquired outside prison walls and his high-profile past, he may find that—in contrast to what one might speculate—money won’t necessarily afford him a better experience with the prison healthcare system than other inmates. “Once someone is under carceral care, it is my understanding that they are not typically allowed to engage with additional providers outside of the established contracts and collaborators,” says Dr. Gross.
In addition, incarcerated patients often face challenges related to timeliness and autonomy in their experience with getting healthcare. Studies show that individuals who are incarcerated, when diagnosed with cancer, may be less likely to receive prompt treatment and face a higher risk of death than people with cancer in the general population.[]
Dr. Gross further explains that extra time is often needed to confirm the necessity of care and transport inmates to hospitals or providers.
Additionally, these patients are not allowed to have family members or loved ones accompany them to appointments. “They may not also have access to even pens or paper to write down their treatment plans and are usually not told about specific dates for transfer to and from their facility,” he observes.
Considering that Weinstein is confined to the prison healthcare system, it is likely he will encounter the same barriers as other inmates receiving cancer treatment. As Dr. Gross notes, different carceral facilities vary in their commitment to ensuring that all individuals receive high-quality care. “Greater transparency in terms of publicly reported data on established healthcare quality indicators would go a long way to ensuring accountability and that opportunities for improvement are identified,” he concludes.
What this means for you
Sources recently revealed that Harvey Weinstein has been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia and is receiving treatment at Rikers Island—where he is serving a 16-year prison sentence for sexual assault. Experts indicate that despite his wealth, Weinstein is likely to face the same challenges and limitations in prison healthcare that other incarcerated individuals encounter, including delays in treatment and restricted access to outside medical providers.