An inmate at an Oxfordshire jail is suing the Prison Service after he cut himself falling from the top bunk in his cell. Do you think prisoners should have the right to sue for accidents in jail?
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ANSWERS: 5
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Generally, if the jail has been negligent in its attitude to health and safety then yes. But in this case, probably not, as he fell - which is an accident -and we all have to take personal responsibility and accept that accidents can happen. We're living in an increasingly risk-averse society and people are increasingly more likely to blame the state or government every time something goes wrong in their lives. Which means the state introduces more and more legislation to avoid situations in which it might be sued and we thereby diminish our own freedoms. *phew*, glad I got that off my chest!
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I dont, I mean afterall it isn't a five star Hotel it is prison. How does someone fall out of bed to begin with? Is he scamming? I would say that would be a frivilous case
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I think it's ridiculous. He's in prison for godsake. The problem is some small minorities worry more about political correctness and not offending anybody or group, they they loose sigh of common sense along the way.
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In principle, yes. Being put in prison does not mean you lose all rights - the Prison Service cannot treat you as an animal. Of course, prison is not meant to be luxury accommodation, but on then other hand, proper health and safety principles should be observed. I cannot comment on this particular case, but if a prisoner, say, lost his hand through faulty machinery, he should certainly be compensated even if he was in prison. This case may be smaller, but the principle applies.
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Only if the prison is guilty of blatant negligence regarding safety standards (resulting in 'cruel and unusual punishment'). This doesn't appear to be the case. If proper safety measures are reasonably maintained and an accident happens, then no. An accident is just that, and I wish people would stop trying to litigiously profit from them.
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