Indian Journal of Health and Medical Law

Psychological Restoration in Correctional Systems: A Psycholegal Behavioral Analysis of Prison Reform

Harpreet Kaur — 2026-07-03

The Indian jail system still operates primarily in a punitive manner, using incarceration as the main form of punishment rather than as a chance for rehabilitation and behavioral modification. This study examines the psycholegal aspects of prison reform, emphasizing the pressing need to switch from punitive to restorative, psychologically based correctional methods. The systematic disconnect between the legal acknowledgment of inmates rights and the psychological harm inflicted by custodial environments which leads to high recidivism, mental illness, social alienation, and inadequate correctional outcomes is the research problem being addressed.

The study aims to accomplish three main research goals:

(a) To use a psycholegal lens to analyze the legal, constitutional, and judicial underpinnings of prisoners' rights in India.

(b) To analyze the psychological effects of incarceration, such as trauma, identity degradation, and stigma following release.

(3) To suggest a reform model that incorporates restorative justice, therapeutic jurisprudence, and mental health frameworks into prison policy.

The main contention put forth is that real prison reform is impossible without the integration of psychological sciences and legal frameworks to develop systems of rehabilitation rather than punishment. The results show that prisons that only concentrate on retribution and deterrence are unable to provide long-term public safety, while models that include victim-offender reconciliation, community sentencing, skill development, and counseling result in reduced recidivism and better reintegration into society.

According to the paper's conclusion, there must be a psycholegal shift in penal philosophy that emphasizes human dignity, rehabilitation, and restoration as essential elements of justice. In addition to being consistent with the constitution, this shift is also criminologically effective and psychologically required for long-lasting change.

Anti-Coercion Measures: Assessing the Legal Strictness of Indian Will for end of life and Advance Medical Directives

Rajesh Kumar — 2026-01-21

The right to life is an important right of individuals. It is interpreted in a waste sense in the case of Maneka Gandhi. After this case this right includes many rights which are necessary to live with dignity. Now these days a new right has introduced and became a burning topic of discussion after the issued the guidelines by Honorable Supreme Court in case of Common Cause that is known as will for end of life. The two main legal instruments for preserving personal autonomy at the end of life are The Wills for end of life and Advance Medical Directives (AMD). The legal validation of these documents introduces a considerable systemic risk, the potential for coercion, undue influence, or early cessation of care due to socio-economic or familial pressures. The implementation of this right is significantly complicated by a complex framework of procedural rigours established by the state to reduce the hazards of medical paternalism, familial avarice, and involuntary euthanasia. This study examines whether current legislative protections effectively defend vulnerable, terminally ill patients from external coercion or if their excessive institutional rigidity becomes an insurmountable bureaucratic obstacle that effectively undermines a citizen’s right to self-determination.

The research examines the comparative Indian legal frameworks and explores how the nation establishes procedural safeguards to ascertain the patient's intent. India has transitioned from a cumbersome, multi-tiered court clearance process to a more efficient medical-board framework. The study evaluates the structural effectiveness of the legislative framework, addressing the conflict between procedural accessibility and the prevention of elder abuse and involuntary euthanasia.

ETHICAL CHALLENGES IN CLINICAL TRIALS IN INDIA: EXAMINING INFORMED CONSENT AND EXPLIOTATION RISKS

Insha Alam — 2026-06-22

The recent report from a hospital of Gujarat disclosed illegal trials from almost half a decade, unreported and unethical. This was not the first or unique instance. Indian history is chequered with reported ethical violations and clinical trials. India, after 2005, has become one of the most preferred locations for clinical trials. This raises the issue of the local population's vulnerability to exploitation under the guise of scientific advancements. A persistent concern is that the studies in which they participate may ultimately remain financially out of reach or practically inaccessible to them. Compounding this issue, India's regulatory framework including the ethics committees responsible for overseeing clinical trial conduct and ensuring compliance with international ethical standards, as well as the primary authorities that grant approval for clinical trials has been found inadequate in addressing the ethical challenges that arise. In light of these concerns, this paper examines clinical trials and their regulatory landscape in India. Further, it deals with the ethical concerns connected therewith, the inadequacies in the present laws and conclude the paper with recommendations.