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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Andrew Coyle, PhD, Professor of Prison Studies, King’s College, University of London, 000, London, WC2B 5RL, United Kingdom, +44 207 748 1922, icps@kcl.ac.uk

Prison officials have control on a daily basis over the most basic human activities of the men and women who are held in prison. They will decide when prisoners may sleep, when and what they may eat, sometimes even when they may perform their bodily functions. They will control prisoners' access to medical facilities, to work, to education. They will decide whether prisoners may have contact with family and friends, by visit, by letter or by telephone. They will control the right of prisoners to observe the requirements of their religion. These are basic human rights which are contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and which admit of no exception. One is entitled to say that, of all public officials, those who are responsible for prisons and for prisoners need to have the greatest awareness of and sensitivity towards human rights.

A range of international standards defines the quality of health care which should be provided to prisoners. Those who are imprisoned retain their fundamental right to enjoy good health, both physical and mental, and they retain their entitlement to a standard of medical care which is at least the equivalent of that provided in the wider community.

Learning Objectives:

• To understand that basic human rights standards apply to prisoners as much as to anyone else. In the context of this conference to understand that this applies particularly in respect of rights to health care.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation