PRESENT-DAY FRENCH LAW COVERING INMATE HEALTH CARE IS BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE THAT INMATES HAVE A RIGHT TO SUCH CARE. THIS IS A CONCEPT THAT HAS BEEN ACCEPTED ONLY RELATIVELY RECENTLY. PRISON DOCTORS ARE UNDER CONTRACT TO THE CORRECTIONS ADMINISTRATION AND ARE PAID A FEE FOR EACH SERVICE THEY PERFORM. EVERY CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION HAS ITS OWN INFIRMARY, WHICH PROVIDES BASIC MEDICAL SERVICES SUCH AS INOCULATIONS AND PERIODIC PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS. DETOXIFICATION TREATMENT OF ALCOHOLIC AND DRUG ADDICT INMATES IS GIVEN AT SOME INSTITUTIONS. THERE ALSO ARE MEDICAL-PSYCHOLOGICAL REGIONAL CENTERS WHERE PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT IS GIVEN. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE SPECIALIZED ESTABLISHMENTS FOR SURGICAL OPERATIONS, TUBERCULAR PATIENTS, AND THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED. FRENCH LAW ALSO PROVIDES FOR THE TREATMENT OF INMATES OUTSIDE THE CORRECTIONS SYSTEM FOR AILMENTS THE SYSTEM IS UNABLE TO TREAT BECAUSE OF LACK OF FACILITIES OR QUALIFIED PERSONNEL. DISCUSSED ARE MEDICOLEGAL CONSIDERATIONS SUCH AS THE LEGAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE AILING INMATE AND PRISON DOCTOR, THE LEGAL STATUS OF INMATES UNDERGOING TREATMENT IN A CIVILIAN ESTABLISHMENT, AND THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE DOCTOR'S PROFESSIONAL OBLIGATION TO TREAT INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM HIS PATIENT AS SECRET AND THE CORRECTIONS AUTHORITIES' NEED FOR THAT INFORMATION. FOR THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT WRITTEN IN FRENCH, SEE NCJ-28419.