[Medical care in prisons-legal framework, structure, and the role of the prison physician]

The medical care of prisoners in the German correctional system has traditionally taken place within a parallel structure, characterized by specific actors, regulations, and conditions. In light of the serious challenges in recruiting medical personnel for correctional facilities, cooperation with the public health system is becoming increasingly important. This is evident, for example, in the growing reliance on private (specialist) physicians and in the establishment of specially secured hospital rooms for the inpatient treatment of prisoners in public hospitals.International frameworks such as the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), the European Prison Rules (EPR), and the Nelson Mandela Rules, as well as the reports of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), also contribute to aligning healthcare in prisons with societal standards. Nevertheless, the generally poor health status of many inmates requires special efforts to achieve a standard of care equivalent to that of the public health system.This article first provides an overview of the legal foundations of medical care in correctional facilities. It then explains in more detail the duties and responsibilities of prison physicians, describes the care structures and various medical specialties involved, and concludes by emphasizing the importance of a qualified, comprehensive assessment of deficiencies in prison healthcare.