Bill > H3361

This bill establishes new regulations for healthcare professionals regarding their involvement with prisoners, defining "torture" as intentionally inflicting severe physical or mental pain for purposes like obtaining information, punishment, intimidation, or coercion, and "abusive treatment" as cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, or violations of specific subsections of the new law. It clarifies that "interrogation" is distinct from medical assessments and defines "prisoner" broadly to include anyone detained or held involuntarily. The bill prohibits healthcare professionals from using their knowledge or skills for purposes other than evaluating, treating, protecting, or improving a prisoner's health, and specifically forbids participation in, complicity in, or assistance with torture or abusive treatment, including providing means, allowing information to be used for such purposes, certifying readiness for torture, being present during it, falsifying records, or assisting in creating conditions designed to harm prisoners. It also prohibits healthcare professionals from assisting in punishment or detention in ways that could adversely affect a prisoner's health, and from participating in interrogations, including evaluating individuals for interrogation methods. While allowing for certain exceptions like aiding investigations or necessary restraints for safety, the bill mandates that healthcare professionals report suspected torture or abusive treatment to appropriate authorities and requires them to exercise independent professional judgment in clinical assessments, free from third-party interests.