25. (1) The medical officer shall have the care of the physical and mental health of the prisoners and
should daily see all sick prisoners, all who complain of illness, and any prisoner to whom his attention is
specially directed.
(2) The medical officer shall report to the director whenever he considers that a prisoner’s physical or
mental health has been or will be injuriously affected by continued imprisonment or by any condition of
imprisonment.
26. (1) The medical officer shall regularly inspect and advise the director upon:
(a) The quantity, quality, preparation and service of food;
(b) The hygiene and cleanliness of the institution and the prisoners;
(c) The sanitation, heating, lighting and ventilation of the institution;
(d) The suitability and cleanliness of the prisoners’ clothing and bedding;
(e) The observance of the rules concerning physical education and sports, in cases where there is no
technical personnel in charge of these activities.
(2) The director shall take into consideration the reports and advice that the medical officer submits
according to rules 25 (2) and 26 and, in case he concurs with the recommendations made, shall take
immediate steps to give effect to those recommendations; if they are not within his competence or if he
does not concur with them, he shall immediately submit his own report and the advice of the medical
officer to higher authority.
Particular international standards have also developed in relation to medical facilities for
psychiatric patients, including:
•
Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons 1971;
•
Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness and the Improvement of
Mental Health Care 1991. These principles clarify that the Principles for Persons under
Detention also apply; and
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