Prisoners and those incarcerated pending trial rely on the state for everything from nutrition to medical care. They should receive appropriate, basic support from the state, regardless of the nature of their offense or the type of medical challenges they face.
Unfortunately, those in state facilities may experience medical indifference or outright negligence that borders on abusive conduct. They may ask for treatment or a medical evaluation due to alarming symptoms, only to have staff members at the jail refuse their reasonable requests.
In cases where inmates have suffered unnecessarily or experienced major medical consequences due to medical negligence which occurred while they were in state custody could constitute a violation of their basic civil rights.
Inmates should not experience cruel and unusual punishment
Incarceration is a reasonable penalty for criminal violations, but denying people medical care is cruel and unnecessary conduct. Even the most notorious criminals deserve treatment for their medical issues. The Eighth Amendment, an important part of the Bill of Rights, protects people from cruel and unusual punishment.
Withholding treatment, denying seriously injured people care or refusing to even acknowledge an inmate’s medical complaints could cause both physical harm and psychological trauma. When professionals at a prison or jail display indifference to an inmate’s serious medical needs, their refusal to seek evaluation or treatment may provide the grounds for legal action.
Inmates who want to hold prison authorities accountable for denying them care or ignoring their deteriorating condition likely need evidence. Medical records from within the facility and from after their release can validate their diagnosis and the impact of delayed or denied treatment.
Statements from witnesses, including prison employees and other inmates, could help affirm what a person experienced and their attempts to secure support. Even staff logs maintained by the facility can show a history of ignored complaints or a trend of specific employees refusing to offer support to an inmate.
Typically, former inmates alleging a denial of medical care need guidance from a legal professional to navigate what can be a very complex legal process. Partnering with an attorney who helps people assert their civil rights can be a smart move for those impacted by medical indifference or outright negligence while in state custody.
Inmates who take legal action may secure treatment or possibly compensation for the economic impact of the rights violation they’ve experienced. Taking legal action over denied medical care while in state custody can also lead to better treatment for future inmates at the same facility.
