When a police officer places you under arrest, it can feel like they are stripping away your civil liberties. And, in fact, they may be in some situations. As an American, you have certain inalienable civil rights that law enforcement must uphold even when you are in police custody.
Among those is the right to adequate medical care. When law enforcement officials fail to provide medical care to persons in custody, it may result in the worsening of a recently-inflicted physical injury, the exacerbation of an existing illness or even death. You can protect yourself by fully understanding your rights and the options available to you when law enforcement personnel violate them.
Know your rights to medical care
The Eighth Amendment to the Constitution establishes a prisoner’s right to adequate medical care as well as protection against violence. This also means that law enforcement personnel cannot intentionally provide insufficient care that does not fully address an inmate’s condition. Any infringement of this right is grounds for legal action and may entitle you to compensation.
Take legal action
Your chosen legal advocate can help you build a case in pursuit of the compensation you deserve after suffering a violation of your civil rights. This begins by establishing that you have a legitimate medical need that law enforcement failed to adequately address. By providing evidence that this neglect resulted in serious harm to your person, you can secure justice for yourself after an abusive ordeal.
While you may only have limited rights and freedoms upon incarceration, your right to adequate medical care is uninfringeable. Even if you have a serious or chronic condition, you should not need to fear for your health when brought into police custody.