Legal Topics

Public Health and Health Care In Prisons

Also see: Suing the Government

The Health Status of Soon-to-be-Released Inmates: A Report to Congress - Volume 1 - Volume 2 (This is an excellent review of the problems of communicable diseases in prisons.)

Prison Litigation Reform Act requires exhaustion of remedies in 1983 cases - Booth v. Churner, 532 U.S. 731 (2001); Prison Litigation Reform Act applies to private and federal prisons - Roles v. Maddox, 439 F.3d 1016 (9th Cir. 2006)

1st Amendment and Prison Grooming Regulations - Gartrell v. Ashcroft, 191 F.Supp.2d 23 (D.D.C. Feb 19, 2002)

Private Contractor Corporations Cannot be Sued Under Bivens (state tort remedies are available) - Correctional Services Corp. v. Malesko, 122 S.Ct. 515, 534 U.S. 61 (U.S. 2001)

City not responsible for costs of emergency care for pre-trial detainees - Myrtle Beach Hospital, Inc. v. City of Myrtle Beach, 341 S.C. 1, 341 S.C. 1, 532 S.E.2d 868, 532 S.E.2d 868 (S.C. 06/05/2000)

Liability for Prison and Post-release Health Care - Lugo v. Senkowski, --- F.Supp.2d ----, 2000 WL 1456235 (N.D.N.Y. Sep 25, 2000)

Ignoring prisoner's HIV medications can be constitutionally impermissible - Sullivan v. County of Pierce, 2000 WL 432368 (9th Cir (Wash) 2000)

Duty to Treat Prisoners After Release - Wakefield v. Thompson, 177 F.3d 1160 (9th Cir. 05-27-1999)

Standards for Prison Physician Liability - Hathaway v. Coughlin, 99 F.3d 550 (2d Cir. 11-08-1996)

Deliberate Indifference in Treatment of Transsexual Prisoner - Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825 (1994)

Co-Payments for Prison Medical Care - Collins v. Romer, 962 F.2d 1508 (10th Cir. 05/05/1992)

Standards for Prison Physician Liability - White v. Napoleon, 897 F.2d 103 (3rd Cir. 02-23-1990)

Limitations on the State's Duty to Provide Services - DeShaney v. Winnebago Cty. Dep't of Soc. Servs., 489 U.S. 189 (1989)

Court Defines Rights to Abortion in Prisons - Monmouth County Correctional Institutional Inmates v. Lanzaro, 834 F.2d 326 (3rd Cir. 03/19/1987)

Heckler v. Chaney et al., 105 S. Ct. 1649, 470 U.S. 821 (1985) - Court rejects claim that FDA must regulate drugs used for lethal injections.

Standard for Medical Care in Prisons - Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 104 (1976)