The Privatization of Prison Healthcare

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There are over 2.3 million persons within the” Prison Industrial Complex”. The “Prison Industrial Complex" is used to describe the overlapping interests of government and industry (Herzing, 2005). The interest of industry within the state prisons of Illinois has led to the selling of inmate healthcare rights to many private companies. The privatization of healthcare within the prison industrial complex is unconstitutional and perpetuates unethical treatment of persons who are incarcerated. These private companies are not being held accountable for the lack of treatment and negligence of providing services within state prisons.
While, equality of healthcare provision in America continues to be a leading topic of debate. Healthcare rights for incarcerated persons are largely absent from this national conversation. Healthcare affordability and accessibility to quality treatment, medicine and doctors remains a priority across all ages, races, genders and political parties. Because “the state” is given the power of autonomy from the provision of law under the federal government, it should be the responsibility of “the state” to provide adequate healthcare services and treatment to persons who are incarcerated.
The system of the Prison Industrial Complex operates within the law. The law allows private companies to infiltrate the prison, while keeping prisoners in a subjugated position. The law, under the Eight Amendment obligates prison officials to provide prisoners with “adequate” medical care. This principle applies regardless of whether the medical care provided is by governmental employees or by private medical staff under contract with the government (Project, 2012). If prisoners believe they are being denied their constitutio...

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...vatized prison health care scrutinized. Retrieved from The Washington Post: Health & Science : http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/privatized-prison-health-care-scrutinized/2012/07/21/gJQAgsp70W_story.html
Pearson, T. (2014, Febuary 18th ). Co-Chairperson . (A. Clay, Interviewer)
Project, A. N. (2012, July ). Know Your Rights: Medical, Dental, and Mental Health Care . Retrieved from ACLU National Prison Project: https://www.aclu.org/files/assets/know_your_rights_--_medical_mental_health_and_dental_july_2012.pdf
Wildeboer, R. (2013, May 27). Inmates Claim Poor Medical Care in Illinois Prison System. Retrieved from Illinois Public Media News : https://will.illinois.edu/news/story/inamtes-claim-poor-medical-care-in-illinois-prison-system
Wolfson, E. (2014, March 4th ). How Obamacare May Lower the Prison Population More Than Any Reform in a Generation.

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