The United States has the largest incarcerated population in the world; in 2020, 1.18 million people were incarcerated in state or federal prisons or local jails 1,2 . Individuals who are incarcerated receive their health care primarily from federal and state government-sponsored facilities, with the provision of this care guaranteed by the 1976 Supreme Court case Estelle v. Gamble 3 . In this ruling, the Court defined deprivation of health care as a violation of the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and established "deliberate indifference" to the health-care needs of prisoners as unconstitutional 4 . Modern correctional health is founded on these principles; however, serious obstacles continue to challenge health-care providers working to meet the needs of incarcerated patients 1,5 . Although there may be logistical challenges in providing care to incarcerated patients that differ from those for the general patient population (Table I), it is important to remember that both the Geneva Convention and Supreme Court rulings affirm the right of incarcerated individuals to receive medical care, and, as health-care providers, we must strive to overcome these challenges, rather than simply accept them.Musculoskeletal and connective tissue diseases are the second-most common category of illness among incarcerated patients, but providing orthopaedic care for these patients often presents practical and ethical challenges to the orthopaedic surgeon 3 . Orthopaedic surgical care, especially fracture care, requires longitudinal treatment with serial radiographs and varied activity restrictions. It is crucial to engage in thor-ough shared decision-making processes with incarcerated patients in a manner that is as engaged as clinicians would be with any other patient population 6 . For conditions typically treated with a surgical procedure, it is essential to discuss the recommended treatment, associated risks, and benefits, just as we would with any other patient population. This ensures that the decision to pursue surgical or nonoperative options is based on an objective evaluation of the patient's unique circumstances, rather than any preconceived biases. Additionally, potential lack of access to physical therapy or reliable transportation for follow-up may make adherence to treatment protocols challenging for incarcerated patients. Although it is incumbent on physicians to advocate for these services when they constitute the standard of care, they cannot ensure that access is provided by the facility. These challenges have been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, which further restricted travel and in-person clinical assessments. This article explores how the unique setting of prisons and jails impacts the delivery of orthopaedic care to patients who are incarcerated. In turn, we apply 4 major ethical principles, beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice, to discuss and understand the responsibilities of physicians when caring for patients who are incarcerated.
The State of MedicalCare for Incarcerated P...