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Medical devices made into weapons by prisoners: an unrecognized risk
J W Hayden1, C Laney, A L Kellermann
1Coastal Correctional Health Care, Incorporated, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Annals of Emergency Medicine
|December 1, 1995
Summary
Prison inmates illicitly use and alter medical equipment, including medications and devices, posing a safety risk. This practice, particularly the modification of equipment into weapons, is a concern for penal institution staff.
Area of Science:
- Criminology
- Public Health
- Medical Ethics
Background:
- Prisoner safety is paramount, yet medical equipment can be misused.
- The alteration of medical devices into weapons presents a unique security challenge within correctional facilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of inmates misusing or altering medical equipment.
- To assess the extent to which medical devices are modified into weapons in penal institutions.
Main Methods:
- A nine-item survey was mailed to detention facilities across Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi.
- Follow-up surveys were sent to non-responding institutions to maximize participation.
Main Results:
- Seventy-seven percent of the 81 surveyed institutions responded.
- Forty percent reported discovering unauthorized medical equipment among inmates.
- Thirty-four percent confirmed that medical equipment was used or altered criminally.
Conclusions:
- The illicit use and modification of medical equipment by prisoners is a significant safety concern for correctional staff and healthcare providers.
- While law enforcement recognizes the weaponization of medical equipment, healthcare workers may underestimate this risk when treating inmates outside secure settings.
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