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Gamble was inmate, injured '73 on prison work detail; worked 4 hrs after injury. At the hospital, Physician Assistant sent him to his cell; 2 hrs later, he complained of intense pain, nurse gave pain medications, and he saw the MD. He was sent to his cell to rest, then 2 days later, Dr said move to lower bunk (not done). In spite of complaints of pain & medications he was sent back to work in 24 days. He refused, & was placed in Administrative segregation. Then he saw a different MD, was kept on medications for 32 days(Rx lost for 4 days). He was put in solitary for refusal to work. His complaints were ignored by guards. The Supreme Court said Administration violated 8th Amendment rights against "cruel & unusual punishment."
Drs. failure was questionably malpractice, but NOT an 8TH AMENDMENT violation.