Justice, Healthcare, and the Rights of Prisoners
Published on HivePostify by @abhay2695 · Thu Aug 20 2026
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When an individual commits an illegal act in society and is subsequently sentenced by a court, they are incarcerated and live as a prisoner. A prisoner's life is far worse than that of an ordinary person; they are confined within the prison walls all day and provided with very poor-quality food. However, many believe that such a lifestyle is deserved given the crimes committed, as the very nature of punishment entails enduring these hardships. The question arises: should prisoners receive the same health benefits as ordinary citizens? In reality, healthcare facilities are available within prisons, and prisoners' health is attended to; doctors are provided to treat everything from minor ailments to serious illnesses, and all necessary medical care is administered in accordance with regulations.
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From a practical standpoint, the primary claim to government-provided healthcare facilities belongs to those who pay taxes. The government uses tax revenue collected from the public to provide various amenities—including healthcare—to the citizens; however, many people believe that incarcerated individuals should not benefit from healthcare services funded by the hard-earned tax money of the general public. To understand this issue, one must consider that individuals are sent to prison because they have committed serious crimes warranting punishment, resulting in their removal from society and a fundamental change in their lives. While imprisonment deprives a person of their liberty, nothing can strip an inmate of their basic human rights; indeed, any legal framework prioritizes humanity above all else.
When a person is incarcerated, the government assumes responsibility for every aspect of their well-being—large or small—including ensuring their health does not deteriorate. These obligations are enshrined in law, and it is the duty of the responsible government officials to uphold them. This responsibility falls on the government because, upon imprisonment, a prisoner loses the autonomy to engage in activities of their choice; they cannot select a preferred hospital or doctor, nor can they make independent arrangements for their own care. Consequently, the government is duty-bound to provide necessary healthcare facilities and ensure the prisoner's health does not suffer.
Taxpayers have every right to know how and where their money is being utilized; however, we cannot gamble with a person's life. While unnecessary expenditure on medical treatment should be avoided, if a person genuinely requires healthcare facilities, they must be provided with them. A prisoner should receive all standard entitlements properly, but if their condition becomes critical, every possible facility must be made available to save their life. In such situations, one should not focus on whether the individual is a prisoner or not; rather, out of humanity, we should provide as much help as possible to anyone—be it a prisoner or an ordinary citizen. Regarding ordinary citizens, the government must assist those unable to afford their own medical expenses, as everyone has a right to good health. Ideally, the government should make all forms of healthcare free so that even the poorest individuals can access medical treatment without cost.
The conclusion is that a prisoner must certainly be punished for their actions—a punishment they indeed receive in prison—but they should not be deprived of anything to which they are rightfully entitled. Being in prison is one thing, while suffering from poor health is quite another; there is a distinct difference between the two. Some people have a tendency to fixate on a negative trait in an individual and assume that the person is entirely negative—devoid of any good qualities—and therefore has no rights within society. This view is entirely incorrect. Every individual in society possesses equal rights; consequently, everyone is entitled to access various facilities, regardless of whether they are an ordinary citizen or a prisoner serving a sentence.
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