Supreme Court decision Estelle v. Gamble (1976) This decision held that deliberate indifference to a prisoners' serious illness or injury constitutes cruel and unusual punishment that violates the Eighth Amendment.
Supreme Court decision Farmer v. Brennan, Warden, et al. (1994) The majority decision held that prison officials violate the Eighth Amendment when they act with deliberate indiference towards inmate health and safety. The decision expounded the legal meaning of "deliberate indiference."