Medical Care for Prisoners: The Evolution of a Civil Right

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Abstract
“Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.”The standard of medical care provided in prisons has emerged recently as an important issue in the areas of public health and prisoners' rights. Prison conditions have long been of concern to both the medical and legal professions. However, little progress was made in prison health care until the early 1970s when the federal courts began to recognize civil rights actions by prisoners pressing for adequate medical care. This article discusses the problems involved with providing medical care in prisons, the development of constitutional standards for prison medical services, and, collaterally, the difficulties encountered when pursuing prison reform by means of federal litigation.