| Matter of McDonnell v Annucci |
| 2020 NY Slip Op 07649 [189 AD3d 1871] |
| December 17, 2020 |
| Appellate Division, Third Department |
| Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431. |
| In the Matter of Theresa McDonnell,
Appellant, v Anthony J. Annucci, as Acting Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision, et al., Respondents. |
Theresa McDonnell, Bedford Hills, appellant pro se.
Letitia James, Attorney General, Albany (Kate H. Nepveu of counsel), for respondents.
Aarons, J. Appeal from a judgment of the Supreme Court (Weinstein, J.), entered December 20, 2019 in Albany County, which dismissed petitioner's application, in a proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78, to review a determination of respondent Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision denying petitioner's request to be certified for medical parole release.
Petitioner was sentenced to 9
We affirm. An inmate may be certified to the Board for medical parole based upon a terminal illness if it is determined by the Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision or his or her designee that the inmate "is suffering from such terminal condition, disease or syndrome and that the inmate is so debilitated or incapacitated as to create a reasonable probability that he or she is physically or cognitively incapable of presenting any danger to society" (Executive Law § 259-r [2] [b]). Similarly, an inmate may be certified to the Board for release on medical parole based upon a significant debilitating illness if it is determined that the inmate "is suffering from such condition, disease or syndrome and that the inmate is so debilitated or incapacitated as to create a reasonable probability that he or she is physically or cognitively incapable of presenting any danger to society" (Executive Law § 259-s [2] [b]). "[T]he decision by the Commissioner [or his or her designee] as to whether an inmate should be certified to the Board for his or her eligibility for medical parole release is discretionary and, as with parole decisions, it will not be disturbed where there is compliance with the statutory requirements" (Matter of Ifill v Wright, 94 AD3d 1259, 1260 [2012]; see Executive Law §§ 259-r [3]; 259-s [3]).
The record demonstrates that Morley determined that petitioner was not eligible to be certified to the Board for medical parole release consideration after reviewing petitioner's medical records. As the record reflects that the statutory requirements were met, "we cannot conclude that [Morley's] decision exhibits 'irrationality [*2]bordering on impropriety' " (Matter of Ifill v Wright, 94 AD3d at 1261, quoting Matter of Black v New York State Bd. of Parole, 83 AD3d 1341, 1342 [2011], lv denied 17 NY3d 708 [2011]). Finally, petitioner's contention that the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision is unable to provide her with adequate medical care is more properly the subject of an inmate grievance (see 7 NYCRR part 701; see e.g. Matter of Davis v Coughlin, 200 AD2d 904, 905 [1994]).
Garry, P.J., Egan Jr. and Pritzker, JJ., concur. Ordered that the judgment is affirmed, without costs.