Andrew Kearse Accountability for Denial of Medical Care Act of 2025

Federal officers must provide medical help

This bill would make it a federal crime for certain federal officers and prison staff to negligently fail to get or give immediate medical help to someone in federal custody who is in medical distress. Medical distress would explicitly include breathing problems. If the failure causes unnecessary pain, injury, or death, the official could face a fine, up to 1 year in jail, or both. The bill would require agency heads to train covered officials on how to obtain or provide medical assistance. It would also require the appropriate Inspector General to investigate complaints, set up a confidential complaint process, and refer negligence findings to the Attorney General for prosecution. Finally, a State attorney general could bring a federal civil suit for equitable or declaratory relief if a state resident appears to have been harmed.