Access of high technology based medical diagnostic tool to convicted prisoners lodged in a typically large indian jail: CT scan as case study.

ABSTRACT

Computed tomography scan of whole body or part of the body is an excellent tool that has elbowed out other radiological procedures demoting their diagnostic importance. However, it is costly to install and operate successfully following the prescribed procedure of equipment maintenance, overhaul and replacement of depleted parts. Keeping this in view, this exercise was contemplated to find out if convicted prisoners lodged in jail are being discriminated at any time by denying CT scan against medical advice. A typically large Indian jail was selected because it would be reflective of similar conditions prevailing in other jails. It was found that although the prescription rate of CT scan was less in prison inmates as compared with the general population, no element of discriminatory nature or prejudice could be detected. Search on internet and other related journals yielded no result on this topic. Hence it was felt that a beginning should be made. In future large sample studies could be taken up for an authoritative work. Such a work would serve the requirement of the government for enacting policies as well as create awareness among the penitentiary officers.