Victoria Davis spoke to the Otago Daily Times after yesterday's release of a coroner's report into her son's death.
The 30-year-old died in a prison cell in February 2011 from a drug overdose after arriving at Otago Corrections Facility with drugs concealed internally.
Coroner David Crerar yesterday recommended the circumstances of Mr Davis' death be investigated by the Health and Disability Commissioner and the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA).
But Ms Davis called the report a ''whitewash'', and said it offered no hope those she believed were responsible for her son's death would be held accountable.
She expected no investigation to come from the IPCA, and nothing useful from the commissioner.
''They're government funded. They are going to do what they're told, aren't they?''
It was no good having reports that spoke about systemic failures, when the reality was individuals made decisions that led to her son's death, she said.
While some guards had been concerned at her son's symptoms, which included vomiting, blood-speckled bile and ''sunken'' eyes, other guards and nurses had said there was no need to help him.
''Corrections staff watched my son die slowly from Saturday and deteriorate to Sunday. And there's not going to be any accountability.''
A former nurse from the prison had told her that kind of behaviour was not only common, but encouraged, she said.
''She told me the nurses knew their job was to torture [prisoners] and make them suffer.
''At the inquest the nurses were laughing behind my back, every time I got upset. People saw them.
''What is that? What culture is that? It's disgusting.''
Ms Davis said her son had been bullied since childhood, struggled with ADHD, had spent many years in the Mongrel Mob, and was being regularly beaten for wanting to leave.
He had argued against the drug-smuggling plan but was told he would be beaten for not complying.
She said her son had made mistakes, but being left to die in a prison cell was not justice.
''Should he have to pay with his life? We haven't got a death sentence in this country. Or do we have a silent one going on in our prisons?''My son did a foolish thing.
''But did that mean that he wasn't entitled to any health care? Or that these people can turn their backs on him and his duty of care?''
Ms Davis said she knew progressing with civil action would be expensive but there had been a lot of interest in her son's case.
''Where there's a will there's a way. I will take it as far as I can take it. These people have got to be made accountable.''
Ms Davis said she was due to meet her legal team in the coming days.
