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. 2024 May 22;25(1):62.
doi: 10.1186/s12910-024-01049-5.

Respect for bioethical principles and human rights in prisons: a systematic review on the state of the art

Massimiliano Esposito  1   2 , Konrad Szocik  3   4 , Emanuele Capasso  5 , Mario Chisari  6 , Francesco Sessa  6 , Monica Salerno  6   7
Affiliations

Respect for bioethical principles and human rights in prisons: a systematic review on the state of the art

Massimiliano Esposito et al. BMC Med Ethics. .

Abstract

Background: Respect for human rights and bioethical principles in prisons is a crucial aspect of society and is proportional to the well-being of the general population. To date, these ethical principles have been lacking in prisons and prisoners are victims of abuse with strong repercussions on their physical and mental health.

Methods: A systematic review was performed, through a MESH of the following words (bioethics) AND (prison), (ethics) AND (prison), (bioethics) AND (jail), (ethics) AND (jail), (bioethics) AND (penitentiary), (ethics) AND (penitentiary), (prison) AND (human rights). Inclusion and exclusion criteria were defined and after PRISMA, 17 articles were included in the systematic review.

Results: Of the 17 articles, most were prevalence studies (n.5) or surveys (n.4), followed by cross-sectional studies (n.3), qualitative studies (n.1), retrospective (n.1) and an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study design (n.1). In most cases, the studies associated bioethics with prisoners' access to treatment for various pathologies such as vaccinations, tuberculosis, hepatitis, HIV, it was also found that bioethics in prisons was related to the mental health of prisoners, disability, ageing, the condition of women, the risk of suicide or with the request for end-of-life by prisoners. The results showed shortcomings in the system of maintaining bioethical principles and respect for human rights.

Conclusions: Prisoners, in fact, find it difficult to access care, and have an increased risk of suicide and disability. Furthermore, they are often used as improper organ donors and have constrained autonomy that also compromises their willingness to have end-of-life treatments. In conclusion, prison staff (doctors, nurses, warders, managers) must undergo continuous refresher courses to ensure compliance with ethical principles and human rights in prisons.

Keywords: Bioethics; Ethics; Human rights; Prison; Public health; Torture.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram illustrating included and excluded studies in this systematic review
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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