Abstract
The right to health, guaranteed by the current Constitution, has not yet been implemented for persons deprived of their liberty. Only in the last years did government actions aim at the social reintegration of these people, through education, work and health. This is a qualitative study to verify the accomplishment of consultation and guidance on health service at the time of admission to a penitentiary in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Twenty-one people in this situation were interviewed. The majority reported an absence of consultation at admission, and the lack of guidance on the functioning of the prison health unit as well as on the situations in which they would be referred for extramural care. There were also reports of difficulties in being attended to, dissatisfaction with therapeutic conduct, and concern with intra-institutional transmission of diseases. Considering that the lack of consultation and guidance at the time of admission can cause irreparable damage, this study, based on Bioethics, sought to reflect on State negligence regarding inmates in a vulnerable situation.
Bioethics; Health services accessibility; Health care (public health; Prisoners; Prisons