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3.5 Role of medical staff
The role of the medical personnel is very important, as it has the duty
to check the mental and physical health of the detainees prior to their
placement in solitary confinement, and once per day for the whole duration
of the measure. As a general rule, the medical staff should not be involved
in the imposition of disciplinary sanctions (Mandela Rules91, CPT92), and
should monitor daily those who are subjected to solitary confinement
(HRC93, Mandela Rules94, CPT95, EPR96). If the examination demonstrates
that the detainee’s mental or physical health is worsening, the medical
personnel should advise the prison director on the termination of the
measure, and review of the measure should take place (Mandela Rules97,
SRT98, CPT99, EPR100).
3.6 Meaningful human contacts
Isolated detainees should be visited daily by a member of the medical staff
(see section on the role of the medical staff) and by the prison director or
a member of staff acting as the prison director (CPT101, EPR102). In several
cases, human rights bodies recommend that prison administrations
should actively counteract the detrimental effects of solitary confinement
by providing necessary stimuli, such as meaningful human contact and/
or activities (Mandela Rules103, ECtHR104, CPT105, EPR106). The EPR state
that in case of the separation of detainees for safety reasons, or as a high
security measure, they should be offered at least two hours of meaningful
human contact.107 Also, as all other detainees, those who are undergoing
solitary confinement should be able to meet their lawyer (SRT108, CPT109)
91. Mandela Rules 46.
92. European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, 2011, §§62-63.
93. Human Rights Committee, 2009, §85(21)
94. Mandela Rules 46
95. European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, 2011, §§62-63
96. EPR 43.2 and 60.6.f
97. Mandela Rules 46.
98. United Nations General Assembly, 2011, §§100-101.
99. European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, 2011, §§62-63.
100. EPR 43.3, 53.A.i, 60.6.b
101. European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, 2011, §§56-61
102. EPR 60.6.f., 53.A.h
103. Mandela Rule 38.
104. European Court of Human Rights, Case of Horych v. Poland, Application No. 13621/08, 17 April 2012,
§98.
105. European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, 2011, §§56-61.
106. EPR 53.A.f.
107. EPR 53.A.a.
108. United Nations General Assembly, 2011, §§75, 87, 89-91, 93, 95-99.
109. European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, 2011, §§56-61
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