Venezuelan prison watchdog demands probe into inmate deaths amid medical care concerns

The Venezuelan Observatory of Prisons (OVP) has demanded an investigation into the medical care provided at the El Libertador penitentiary in Carabobo state, following the deaths of two inmates within a 48-hour period. The organization highlighted that the rapid succession of these deaths raises serious questions about the prison system's capacity to address the health needs of its incarcerated population.

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The succession of both deaths raises doubts about the prison system's ability to respond to the health needs of the inmate population and makes it necessary to review care mechanisms, access to specialized medical services, and the speed with which hospital transfers are carried out when an inmate presents complications.

The OVP emphasized the need to review current healthcare mechanisms, access to specialized medical services, and the efficiency of hospital transfers for inmates experiencing complications. The call for investigation intensified after the death of Ángel Gabriel Hurtado Fuentes, who was transferred to the Dr. Enrique Tejera Central Hospital due to cardiovascular complications, where he later died. This was the second inmate death at the facility in less than two days.

The organization stressed that these cases should not be viewed in isolation but as indicators requiring a comprehensive review of the health system within the penitentiary. They urged authorities to promptly identify inmates needing specialized care to prevent similar tragedies. The OVP also called on the Ministry for the Penitentiary Service to clarify the circumstances surrounding both deaths and to conduct a medical evaluation of all inmates at the El Libertador center to identify those at risk.

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These cases should not be analyzed in isolation, but as a signal that warrants a comprehensive review of the functioning of the health system within the penitentiary establishment. It insisted on the need to promptly identify inmates requiring specialized attention to prevent similar situations from recurring.

Citing Article 43 of the Venezuelan Constitution, which guarantees the inviolability of the right to life, the OVP asserted that the state has an obligation to protect the lives and health of those in its custody. The organization requested the intervention of the Ombudsman's Office and the Public Ministry to determine the causes of the deaths, establish any potential responsibilities, and implement measures to ensure adequate healthcare within the prison system.

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The protection of the life and health of persons deprived of liberty constitutes an obligation of the State. Therefore, the consecutive death of two inmates demands an independent investigation, responses from the authorities, and the implementation of measures that guarantee adequate health care within the prison system.