In the landmark case, Estelle v Gamble (1976), the right of health care for inmates was established (Rosenfeld, 2016). In this case, Gamble, the inmate, was injured while working for the prison. He was not given adequate treatment which then led to further complications. This case argued that the lack of
health care for Gamble was cruel and unusual punishment. Part of this argument was that the prison knew of Gamble’s condition and had “deliberate indifference” towards it. It is this deliberate indifference that was an offense to the eighth amendment, and what solidified the right of health care
for inmates. It is important to note that the prisons are held to the standards of adequate health care for severe conditions. This leaves a lot to the discretion of each correctional facility.
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