title: [Medical-legal conduct with individuals in judicial or police custody].
abstract: The problems involved in caring for individuals in custody, as well as deaths that occur during custody, are relevant aspects of legal and forensic medicine in terms of the possible criminal, civil and administrative responsibility of health professionals and/or public or private institutions that might hold individuals in custody and deprived of freedom. The rule of law should ensure that these cases comply with state law and international agreements and treaties related to human rights and the special treatment of individuals deprived of freedom in hospitals or detention centers. Of particular mention is the medical-forensic activity regarding deaths associated with the use of control holds and/or restraint during the detention of individuals by members of the armed forces or law enforcement or in healthcare centers by safety and healthcare personnel. In these cases, both the immediate healthcare treatment subsequent to the events and the medical-forensic study should be particularly careful. These situations, which are often high profile, cause social alarm and involve judicial actions that can result in especially severe liabilities.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Medicina Legal de Cataluña. Departamento de Justicia. Barcelona. España. Electronic address: jordi.medallo@xij.gencat.cat.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Medallo Muñiz
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Medicina Legal de Cataluña. Departamento de Justicia. Barcelona. España.
authors.forename: Carles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martín-Fumadó
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal. Coimbra. Portugal; Facultad de Medicina. Universidad de Coimbra. Coimbra. Portugal.
authors.forename: Duarte
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nuno Vieira
mesh_terms: D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005060:Europe; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006708:Homicide / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006806:Human Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008402:Mass Media; D011329:Prisoners / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011330:Prisons / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011639:Public Opinion; D011678:Punishment; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013030:Spain; D020458:Third-Party Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014104:Torture / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Custodia; Custody; Death in custody; Muerte en custodia; Personas detenidas; Persons remanded