Page 61 - Human Rights

Faculty of Nursing
Adult care Nursing Department

2.9.2 Egypt: Nurse Unable to Fulfill Duty of Care in a Detention Facility

In an informal report shared during a local discussion on healthcare and human rights, an Egyptian

nurse working in a detention facility stated that he was unable to provide proper nursing care to
detainees due to severe limitations imposed by management.

The nurse reported a lack of basic resources, including insufficient medical supplies, no private

space for patient assessment, and no access to mental health specialists, despite dealing with a

large number of detainees suffering from physical and psychological problems.

He explained that he was often responsible for caring for dozens of detainees alone during long

shifts, which made it impossible to provide safe and ethical care.

His medical recommendations were frequently ignored by administrative authorities, especially

when hospital referral was required.

The nurse described several incidents, including a young detainee who showed clear signs of
physical abuse. When the nurse suggested reporting the case as abuse and transferring the

detainee for further examination, he was warned by management not to escalate the issue.

In another case, an adult detainee repeatedly attempted self-harm and required urgent psychiatric
intervention.

However, management insisted on handling the situation inside the facility instead of transferring

the patient to a specialized hospital.

Only after strong insistence from the medical team was the detainee eventually transferred.

He also reported the case of an elderly woman who showed symptoms of neurological
impairment. Despite repeated requests from nursing and medical staff, management dismissed

the condition as psychological.

58 Academic Year 2025/2026