Inmate medical treatment is protected under which constitutional principle?

Inmate medical treatment is primarily protected under the Eighth Amendment, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. This constitutional principle establishes that prisoners have the right to receive adequate medical care while incarcerated. The courts have interpreted the Eighth Amendment to mean that failing to provide necessary medical treatment can result in infliction of pain and suffering, which is deemed unconstitutional.

This principle ensures that inmates are not subjected to inhumane conditions, including neglect of medical needs. Legal precedents confirm that deliberate indifference to an inmate's serious medical needs constitutes a violation of the Eighth Amendment, underscoring the obligation of correctional facilities to ensure that medical care is accessible and sufficient for the health and well-being of inmates.