Final answer:
The Estelle v. Gamble case was a landmark decision by the Supreme Court in 1976, setting the precedent that deliberate indifference to the serious medical needs of prisoners constitutes cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Estelle v. Gamble Case Overview
The case of Estelle v. Gamble is significant in the context of constitutional law, specifically relating to the Eighth Amendment's prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. In 1976, the Supreme Court ruled on the case, which involved a prisoner named J.W. Gamble who filed a lawsuit against the prison officials at the Texas Department of Corrections. Gamble argued that the lack of proper medical treatment for a serious injury constituted cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment.
Ultimately, the Supreme Court established a standard for what constituted a violation of the Eighth Amendment concerning medical care for prisoners. The court held that deliberate indifference to serious medical needs of prisoners constitutes the 'unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain,' proscribed by the Eighth Amendment. This ruling set the precedent that inmates have a constitutional right to adequate medical care while in custody.