Prisons and prisoners: some observations, comments and ethical reflections based on a visit to a prison hospital in the Ukrainian Republic.
The Republic of the Ukraine has a huge prison population and a large prison health care system. Like all other public services in that country it is lacking in sufficient funds to operate adequately and with due respect to the human rights of the prisoners and its health care employees. This report and observations are based on my knowledge of the Ukrainian health care system and a visit to a Ukrainian prison hospital. It includes some ethical reflections stemming from this experience. Although problem-solving exercises can often help to point to areas of potential intervention that could ameliorate a troublesome situation, in this case prison health care conditions cannot be substituted for economic growth, political stability or increased awareness of societal moral obligations.
Brykczyñska
Gosia
G
International Department, Royal College of Nursing, 20 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0RN, UK. gosia.brykczynska@rcn.org.uk
D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D006806:Human Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010686:Philosophy, Medical; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D011330:Prisons / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014455:Ukraine