Introduction
Inmates of federal prisons and correctional facilities being but a part of the community at large are in need of similar health care facilities as do the other members of the community, hence the need for physician's assistant to that respect. In doing so, the objective of health care service for the inmates of both the federal prisons as well as the correctional facilities should be to meet the requisite health goals, as well as act as a liaison with the local jurisdictions or state health authorities in accomplishing the said goals.

Some of the Issues in the Physician's Role in The Health Care of Inmates of Federal Prisons and Correctional Facilities

In discussing the subject of the physician’s role in both the federal prisons as well as the correctional facilities across the nation, there are a number of issues that arise with it, and which needs equal importance to complete to the said subject of the role of physicians in the health care of inmates housed in federal prisons and the correctional facilities. Some of the vital issues include the importance of healthy communities, access to the requisite health care facilities, importance given to the ethical and legal issues that provide a reflective mirror to the working and lives of a healthy community both within and outside the parameters of the federal prisons and the correctional facilities, the facility of consent and refusal to the inmate populations, as equally allowed to free citizens of the state, providing the principle aspect of patient-physician confidentiality as is normal in an otherwise free community of citizens, and the protection as well as the promotion of the basic human rights of the incarcerated populations.

Discussion on One Theme/Idea : Abuse of Human Rights
Perhaps the most crucial of all issues amongst the above listed is that of human rights of the incarcerated populations across the nation. The importance emerges not only in the perspective that the incarcerated populations is the most vulnerable, but more importantly it is the dignity of the individual as a human being that is at stake as also evidence in cases of torture, cruel and inhuman or even degrading treatment meted out against most if not all the incarcerated populations.
The first responsibility for safeguarding the human rights of the inmate population undoubtedly falls on the authorities of both prison and correctional facilities, which is followed by the health care professionals, in particular the physician assigned to the respective withholding facility. It is therefore the duty of the respective physician that both the protection as well as the promotion of human rights remain the critical aspects of their health care programs. In this respect, it is worthwhile to note that the federal government of the United States of America too has come up with three important international treaties to this respect, all of which have been duly ratified as well as implemented, and which prohibit, though with certain limitations, any abuse against incarcerated populations. For example, the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT); International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR); and the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICEFRD).

Some of the responsibilities for the physicians assigned to the incarcerated populations include:
1. Detection and treatment thereof of any physical or mental illness which may restrict a prisoner's rehabilitation, hence ensure that all necessary medical, dental, surgical or psychiatric assistance is provided to the inmate population.
2. Checking and confirming upon all sick prisoners on a daily basis, in particular those who are pointed out as being sick, irrespective of any discrimination on any grounds.
3. Checking and confirming on all incarcerated prisoners on their states of physical and mental illness, and if need be advise respective authorities on suspending or stopping altogether the mode of punishment which tends to harm the prisoner either mentally or physically in their present condition, or in the future.

4. It is also the duty of the physician to identify and if possible eliminate any and all forms of torture or other forms of inhuman and degrading treatment against the prisoners.
5. Perhaps the most important duty befalling on the physicians is to train and guide the respective law enforcement personnel, in particular the jail authorities, on methods and procedures for prohibiting torture, at any stage of incarceration including, at the time of arrest, detention, and imprisonment.