Establishing hospice care for prison populations: An integrative review assessing the UK and USA perspective

Abstract

the provision of palliative care for the increasing prison population remains under-researched globally, with a notable lack of evidence from the United Kingdom.

The Pains of Imprisonment: Challenging Aspects of Pain Management in Correctional Settings

“…This blurring of the lines between punishment and medical care can have an impact on pain management for prisoners [9]. For example, some correctional settings have severely restricted the availability of opioids even for patients with severe pain [10]. Additionally, in some instances prisoners can receive pain medications only at certain hours of the day (which may not coincide with when they are having pain).…”

“…Few studies have investigated pain management among prisoners and those that have are often very For reprint orders, please contact: reprints@futuremedicine.com specific, focusing only on certain types of pain (such as cancer pain) [9], a certain stage of illness or type of treatment (such as palliative care) [10] and/or specific demographic populations (such as older adults) [11]. While a focus on palliative care and pain management for older adults is understandable, given the rising numbers of older prisoners [11] and increasing numbers of prisoners dying while incarcerated due to longer sentences [10], few if any studies have comprehensively assessed the epidemiology of pain or approaches to pain management among a diverse population of prisoners. Rarely have studies compared differences in pain and pain management between prisoners and the community [9].…”

Peer social support training in UK prisons

“…It is known that schemes focusing on developing prisoner peer workers are well developed in the United States of America (USA), particularly in relation to the escalating cost of caring for prisoners with dementia (Belluck, 2012) and prisoners nearing the end of their life (Stone et al, 2011).…”

Viewpoint: Will I stay or can I go? Assisted suicide in prison

“…The United Kingdom and the United States have begun to establish end-of-life care in prisons, collaborating with community services. 7,8 Yet, access to palliative care even in those countries remains limited. 9 Switzerland is still struggling to find viable solutions.…”

“…There are few requests for compassionate release granted and, most importantly, rarely in time. 7,11 Therefore, the usual objection that inmates might decide differently if they were not in prison might be true, but it neglects the most essential part of their reality -being imprisoned -and ignores the current limitation in choices that an inmate can make about his or her own death in Swiss correctional facilities.…”