'Correctional Facilities Accept Human Rights Commission Recommendations on "Inmate Emergency Response Manual Revision"'

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) announced on the 1st that the heads of the relevant regional correctional offices and detention centers accepted the recommendation to revise the manual and conduct job training regarding emergency treatment for inmates with panic disorder and other conditions.

According to the NHRCK, a petitioner diagnosed with panic disorder and regularly taking medication experienced two seizure episodes while in custody at the respondent institution. However, the heads of the relevant regional correctional office and detention center, among others, classified these incidents as disruptive behavior and did not provide emergency treatment for the panic disorder, nor did medical personnel subsequently check the petitioner’s condition. The NHRCK judged this as a violation of the petitioner’s right to health.

On January 16, the NHRCK recommended to the head of Regional Correctional Office A and the head of Detention Center B to revise the emergency treatment manual for inmates with panic disorder and other conditions, and to establish measures to ensure appropriate medical records are produced to verify health status, in relation to the petition filed regarding inadequate medical care for inmates at the detention center. Furthermore, the NHRCK emphasized that job training should be conducted for relevant staff to enable prompt and consistent responses in emergency situations.

The respondents replied to the NHRCK that they would disseminate the relevant information to their respective institutions and carry out manual revisions and job training. The NHRCK determined on the 11th that the respondents had accepted the commission’s recommendations.

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