PLACE OF MEDICINE IN THE AMERICAN PRISON - ETHICAL ISSUES IN THE TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS

• NCJ Number: 40234
• Journal: JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ETHICS Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1976) Pages: 173-179
• Author(s): P L SISSONS
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: British Medical Assoc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. REPRINT

Annotation

THIS PAPER INVESTIGATES, FROM THE BRITISH PERSPECTIVE, THE ISSUES OF 1) DELIVERY OF MEDICAL SERVICES TO PRISON INMATES, 2) THERAPEUTIC MEDICAL RESEARCH ON INDIVIDUAL INMATES, AND 3) NON-THERAPEUTIC MEDICAL RESEARCH.

Abstract

THE PAPER FIRST ATTEMPTS TO SHOW HOW AN EXAMINATION OF THESE ISSUES RAISES QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE INVOLVEMENT OF MEDICAL ETHICS NOT ONLY IN ISSUES OF HUMAN RIGHTS BUT ALSO IN THE DETERMINATION OF PRIORITIES IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MEDICINE AND OTHER DISCIPLINES WHICH PURPORT TO OPERATE ON A 'MEDICAL MODEL' OF SOCIAL ORGANIZATION. IT IS ARGUED THAT A KEY PROBLEM CONFRONTING THE PRISON DOCTOR AND THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF PRISON MEDICAL SERVICES GOES BEYOND THE ORDERING OF PRIORITIES WITHIN MEDICINE TO THE ORDERING OF PRIORITIES BETWEEN MEDICAL AND OTHER MODES OF TREATING INMATES. IT IS FURTHER ARGUED THAT THE APPARENTLY HUMANISTIC POSITION OF TREATING THE INMATE FOR PURPOSES OF REHABILITATION HAS BEEN THE SOURCE OF THE AMBIGUITY AND CONFLICT WHICH HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUBSTANDARD MEDICAL PROCEDURES PRESENT IN MANY AMERICAN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)...DMC