Surgical care for individuals in law enforcement custody is critically compromised, with many facing systemic barriers. Approximately 2 million are incarcerated in the U.S., and age-related surgical needs are rising. Challenges like logistics, privacy, and medical comorbidities result in suboptimal outcomes, with autopsy data indicating that many deaths could have been preventable with surgery. To improve care, clinicians must adjust practices and advocate for guidelines that ensure patient-centered approaches for this marginalized group.
Journal Article by Kaufman EJ, Passman JE (…) Beard JH et 10 al. in JAMA Surg