Prisons (Scotland) Act 1877

49 Duties of medical officer

The medical officer shall visit the prison at least twice in every week, and oftener if necessary, and shall see every prisoner in the course of the week. He shall daily visit the prisoners, if any, confined in punishment cells, and he shall visit daily, and oftener if necessary, such of the prisoners as are sick, and when necessary shall direct any prisoner to be removed to the sick

The medical officer shall enter daily in a register to be kept in the prison an account of the state of every sick prisoner, the name of his disease, a description of the medicines and diet, and any other treatment which he may order for such prisoner. The medical officer shall, once at least in every three months, inspect every part of the prison, and enter in his register the result of each inspection, recording therein any observations he may think fit to make on any want of cleanliness, drainage, warmth, or ventilation, any bad quality of the provisions, any insufficiency of clothing or bedding, any deficiency in the quantity or defect in the quality of the water, or any other cause which may affect the health of the prisoners.

Whenever the medical officer has reason to believe that the mind of a prisoner is or is likely to be injuriously affected by the discipline or treatment, he shall report the case in writing to the governor, together with such directions as he may think proper, and he shall call the attention of the chaplain to any prisoner who appears to require his special notice.

The medical officer may, in any case of danger or of difficulty which appears to him to require it, call in additional medical assistance; and no serious operation shall be performed without a previous consultation being held with another medical practitioner, except under circumstances not admitting of delay, such circumstances to be recorded in his register.