The following excerpt is from Benge v. Weildman, Case No.: 1:10-cv-00215-JLT (PC) (E.D. Cal. 2011):
A prisoner has a serious medical need if the failure to treat his condition"could result in further significant injury or the 'unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain.'" McGuckin, 974 F.2d at 1059, quoting Estelle, 429 U.S. at 104. Examples of a serious medical need would be any injury that a reasonable doctor or patient would find important or worth treatment, any condition that significantly affect's a person's daily activities, or anything causing substantial or chronic pain. Id. at 1059-60, citing Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1337-41 (9th Cir. 1990).
The above passage should not be considered legal advice. Reliable answers to complex legal questions require comprehensive research memos. To learn more visit www.alexi.com.