On the other hand, it just seems like most criminals are just so self centered. I don’t deny that many of them are decent people…but for crying out loud…why the hell should THEY get good quality health care when a lot of other people can’t even afford health care? And I mean some of the cost overruns are rediclous…like a second coachlear implant (which on average simply improves sound localization and abilty to hear in noise) or sex change operations.
When do we say enough is enough? Like I think if a person is OBVIOUSLY beyond guilty of some horrible crime, and is dx with something really bad, and terminal then the state should just give pallitative care. I’m sorry, but some of those criminals…I can’t even find the words!
clap clap clap
See discussion above. Anything given in health care by corrections department will be the minimum legally required under the law- I don’t see them agreeing to such medical care for fun or to just spend money. You can bet that any expensive intervention has been considered by the State’s lawyers and they are acting on legal advice on what the constitution mandates.
If you don’t want this to happen, your argument is with the constitution and not with the individuals involved.
Your constitution disagrees.
Does the *Constitution *disagree, or the current interpretation of the Constitution and other laws and case law about prinsoner’s rights disagree?
'Cause I am not a Constitutional lawyer, but I know that things like “Cruel and Unusual” change meaning over time, and lots of thing used to be appropriate which aren’t anymore (chain gangs rented out to factories, for instance), based not on Constitutional Amendments, but judicial activism and popular demand.
Does the Constitution clearly enumerate the level and duration of health care and illness prevention to be administered to incarcerated criminals? (It may, I just don’t know where or how it’s worded, and I’d like to read it for myself.)
Qadop, thank you for addressing my post and not taking offense where none was intended.
The constitution is not just the words on paper signed by the founding fathers and later amended, but is in reality that whole document as interpreted by the judiciary.
These interpretations regarding medical care of wards of the state are listed here by people who responded to a request for such information:
This is the constitution as interpreted.
This may change, but final major decisions of the courts are rarely overturned, especially those that reach SCOTUS and are decided there.