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Guidelines for doctors attending detainees in police custody: a consensus conference in France

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Abstract

Medical practice in police custody needs to be harmonized. A consensus conference was held on 2–3 December 2004 in Paris, France. The health, integrity, and dignity of detainees must be safeguarded. The examination should take place in the police station so that the doctor can assess the conditions in which the detainee is being held. If the minimum conditions needed for a medical examination are not available, the doctor may refuse to express an opinion as to whether the detainee is fit to be held in custody or may ask for the detainee to be examined in a hospital. Doctors are subject to a duty of care and prevention. They should prescribe any ongoing treatment that needs to be continued, as well as any emergency treatment required. Custody officers may monitor the detainee and administer medication. However, their role should not be expected to exceed that required of the detainee’s family under normal circumstances and must be specified in writing on the medical certificate. Doctor’s opinion should be given in a national standard document. If the doctors consider that the custody conditions are disgraceful, they may refuse to express an opinion as to whether the detainee is fit for custody.

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Acknowledgements

Sponsors

Collégiale des médecins légistes hospitaliers et hospitalo–universitaires; Société de médecine légale et de criminologie de France.

Co-sponsors: Association des professionnels de santé intervenant en milieu pénitentiaire; Centre de documentation et de recherche en médecine générale; Conférence des bâtonniers;

Conseil national de l’ordre des médecins; Direction de l’hospitalisation et de l’organisation des soins; Direction des affaires criminelles et des grâces; Direction générale de la Gendarmerie nationale; Direction générale de la Police nationale–Inspection générale de la Police nationale; Direction générale de la santé; Fédération française d’addictologie; Fédération française de psychiatrie; Fédération hospitalière de France; Ligue des droits de l’Homme; Mission interministérielle de lutte contre la drogue et la toxicomanie; Société française d’alcoologie; Société française de santé publique; Société francophone de médecine d’urgence; SOS-médecins France.

Supporting organisations: Ministère de l’Intérieur, de la Sécurité intérieure et des Libertés locales; Ministère des Solidarités, de la Santé et de la Famille; Ministère de la Défense; Ministère de la Justice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forensic Medicine, hôpital Jean-Verdier (AP-HP), Bondy, France

    Patrick Chariot

  2. Centre de recherches sur la santé, le social et le politique (CRESP), INSERM Unit 723, université Paris 13, Bobigny, France

    Patrick Chariot

  3. French National Authority for Health (Haute autorité de santé), Saint-Denis, France

    Philippe Martel

  4. Department of Forensic Medicine, Centre Hospitalier et Universitaire, Angers, France

    Michel Penneau

  5. Department of Forensic Medicine, hôpital Bellevue, Centre Hospitalier et Universitaire, Saint-Etienne, France

    Michel Debout

Authors
  1. Patrick Chariot
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  2. Philippe Martel
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  3. Michel Penneau
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  4. Michel Debout
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Patrick Chariot.

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Chariot, P., Martel, P., Penneau, M. et al. Guidelines for doctors attending detainees in police custody: a consensus conference in France. Int J Legal Med 122, 73–76 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-007-0157-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-007-0157-7

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