Barriers to Healing: End-of-Life Care for Incarcerated Patients

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Public Health
• Sociology of Health

Background:

• A third-year medical student's narrative explores a patient with terminal stomach cancer.
• The patient's incarcerated status led to significant delays and limitations in accessing medical care.
• This case reveals systemic inadequacies within the USA prison healthcare system.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the impact of systemic inequities and institutional biases on patient healthcare access.
• To examine the emotional journey of a patient with terminal cancer, including communication barriers with family.
• To underscore the importance of humanism in medicine, recognizing patient dignity and sociocultural context.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative narrative analysis of a medical student-patient interaction.
• Exploration of patient's experience within the context of the US prison healthcare system.
• Focus on the intersection of incarceration, health, and humanism in medical practice.

Main Results:

• Incarcerated status significantly delayed and limited the patient's access to timely and adequate medical treatment.
• Systemic inadequacies within the prison healthcare system were highlighted.
• The patient's emotional distress and family communication challenges were significant factors.

Conclusions:

• Humanism in medicine is crucial for bearing witness to patient stories and recognizing their dignity.
• Sociocultural contexts, including incarceration, profoundly shape healthcare experiences.
• Addressing systemic inequities is essential for equitable and humane medical care.