**2. Methodology**

This chapter is offered as a conceptual discussion of the issues affecting the quality and safety of care, rather than either an empirical study or a systematic review. The material draws on our research into the quality and safety of care for vulnerable individuals and groups [1] as well as a consideration of the literature we have considered over time. Readers interested in exploring this literature may consider using a range of patient safety terms, such as patient safety, medical or medication error, iatrogenic harm, adverse event, preventable injury, healthcare/hospital acquired infection, nosocomial infection, and or medical harm, as well as terms for incarceration, including for example: prison, incarceration, correctional, jail or gaol, inmate, detention and or parole.

**Table 1** provides definitions of some of the key terms relating to incarceration that have been used in this chapter. It must be noted that these terms (their use and definition, including in the specific legal context) may differ from country to country.
