After an initial denial, UCHealth officials have confirmed that hospital staff did indeed cut the hair of an Indigenous man without his or his family's permission.
Arthur Janis' family, as Denverite reported last month, argued that the act violated their Oglala Lakota Nation culture.
Keith Janis said his brother, Arthur, was life flighted to the University of Colorado Hospital in August from South Dakota. According to Keith, Arthur had long hair when he arrived, a tradition in Lakota culture.
But sometime during Arthur's stay at the facility, his hair was cut without the family's knowledge.
Keith said UCHealth initially said that after reviewing video footage, it seemed another health facility may have cut Arthur's hair. They said the video showed Arthur leaving UCHealth with long hair but returning without it.
UCHealth said in a statement provided to Denverite Friday that its investigation concluded that Arthur's hair was cut by his care team because it was matted and they were concerned there was a potential "pressure ulcer underneath the mat."
"Pressure ulcers can be very painful, difficult to treat and can become infected, risking the health or life of a patient, especially those in intensive care," UCHealth wrote.
After unsuccessfully attempting to comb out the mat, UCHealth said they needed to cut Arthur's hair.
"After being unable to wash and comb out this mat of hair, the patient's care team worked together to carefully trim it to assess whether he had already developed a pressure ulcer and reduce the risk of him developing a pressure ulcer on the back of his head," UCHealth wrote. "At no time prior to cutting the hair was the patient identified as someone with Native American ancestry or culture, even after discussion with his family. The patient's care team was unaware of his Lakota roots."
Keith disputes the hospital's claim, adding that Arthur's hair wasn't matted when he arrived at UCHealth. Keith previously said Arthur was a "traditional man" who "valued his long hair."
In Lakota tradition, men grow their hair long because it's seen as an extension of their spirits. When relatives pass, their hair is cut and displayed in memorial for the deceased person, according to Keith.
"His hair wasn't matted up when he went there," Keith said. "That happened to him while he was there because they never cleaned him. They didn't wash his hair. They didn't groom his hair. They did nothing."
Keith added that UCHealth should have known Arthur was Indigenous because of where he was flown in from South Dakota. Janis' family is from the Pine Ridge Reservation.
UCHealth said they would continue working with the family, specifically Arthur's sister who is listed as his caretaker.
"Our medical team acted appropriately given the information they had available to them and the acute medical needs of the patient. We continue to work with the family to coordinate his ongoing care," UCHealth said in a statement.
Keith said his family will continue seeking more accountability and perhaps even legal action.
"They were lying. There's no breakdown of communication. It is just lies," Keith said.
