NCJ Number
60842
Journal
Corrections Magazine Volume: 5 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1979) Pages: 4-11
Date Published
1979
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE QUALITY OF CORRECTIONAL HEALTH CARE FOR INMATES IS EXAMINED, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE SOPHISTICATED SYSTEM IN MINNESOTA AND MEDICAL SETBACKS AND ADVANCES IN VIRGINIA AND MICHIGAN.
Abstract
SUBSTANDARD MEDICAL PRACTICES IN THE NATION'S PRISONS ARE AMONG THE PRIMARY COMPLAINTS OF INMATES. FOLLOWING NEWMAN V. ALABAMA (1974), THE LANDMARK FEDERAL DECISION MARKING THE END OF JUDICIAL TOLERANCE OF INADEQUATE PRISON MEDICAL CARE, ATTORNEYS FOR THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION REPORT THAT 8 STATES HAVE ALREADY LOST OR SETTLED PRISON-RELATED LAWSUITS THAT INVOLVE INADEQUATE HEALTH CARE, WITH ANOTHER 11 STATES CURRENTLY FACING SUCH SUITS. THE INADEQUACY OF PRISON HEALTH CARE IS NOT SURPRISING GIVEN THE INSUFFICIENT FUNDING, THE DIFFICULTY OF RECRUITING HIGHLY-QUALIFIED DOCTORS AND NURSES, AND THE OFTEN OVERRIDING CUSTODY CONCERNS. ALTHOUGH NO DEFINITIVE STUDY HAS BEEN DONE, MOST PRISON MEDICAL EXPERTS INDICATE THAT INMATES ARE MORE IN NEED OF HEALTH CARE THAN THE POPULATION AS A WHOLE BECAUSE OF THEIR SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS AND THE STRESS OF A HIGH-PRESSURE PRISON ENVIRONMENT. MINNESOTA'S RESPONSE TO THIS PROBLEM IS DEMONSTRATED AT THE MINNESOTA STATE PRISON AT STILLWATER, WHICH HAS A FULL-TIME PHYSICIAN AND DENTAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, PHARMACEUTICAL, LABORATORY, AND X-RAY SERVICES, AS WELL AS 24-HOUR COVERAGE BY REGISTERED NURSES. THE 12-BED INFIRMARY HAS PART-TIME PSYCHIATRIC, RADIOLOGICAL, PHYSICAL THERAPY, DIETARY, AND OPTOMETRY SERVICES. IN CONTRAST TO THE MINNESOTA PRISON, THE VIRGINIA STATE PENITENTIARY IN RICHMOND HAS A LACK OF STAFF AND RESOURCES, USES UNTRAINED INMATE NURSES, AND IS PLAGUED BY POOR RECORDKEEPING, GARBLED COMMUNICATION AMONG HEALTH-CARE OFFICIALS, AND NO CONTINUITY OF CARE. THE CASE OF HENRY TUCKER, AN INMATE LEFT DISABLED BECAUSE OF HIS MISTREATMENT AT THE INSTITUTION TESTIFIES TO THE DEFICIENCIES. SOMEWHERE BETWEEN MINNESOTA'S RAPID ADVANCES AND VIRGINIA'S SLOW MOVEMENT TOWARDS MINIMUM HEALTH-CARE STANDARDS IS MICHIGAN, WHICH HARBORS THE COUNTRY'S FIFTH HIGHEST STATE PRISON POPULATION. ADVANCES IN MICHIGAN'S PRISON MEDICAL STANDARDS ARE DISCUSSED AS WELL AS THE ACTIVITIES AND GUIDELINES OF THE AMERICAN CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION AND THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. PHOTOGRAPHS ARE INCLUDED.