Opinion ID: 614073
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Intentional Denial of Medical Care

Text: In addition to its errors regarding the testimony of Cole's expert witnesses, the BIA also failed to consider Cole's claim that he would face torture in Honduras as a result of intentional denial of medical care. The applicable CAT regulations require that the torturer have the specific intent to inflict severe harm. 8 C.F.R. § 1208.18(a)(5). Acts that merely have the foreseeable result of inflicting harm are not sufficient; the actor[must] intend the actual consequences of his conduct. Villegas, 523 F.3d at 989. Thus, inhumane conditions and lack of access to appropriate medical care do not, in and of themselves, constitute torture. Id.; Eneh, 601 F.3d at 948. The IJ and BIA were therefore correct that a claim of inadequate health care in Honduras, without more, is insufficient to warrant CAT relief. This court has recognized, however, that the intentional denial of medical care as a form of punishment could suffice to establish a CAT claim. Eneh, 601 F.3d at 948. Here, the BIA did not consider at all Cole's claim that medical care would be intentionally withheld because of his gang tattoos, and that he, specifically, was likely to need medical care due to his brain injury. [10] There is at least some evidence supporting Cole's contentions: Canales testified that he had personally witnessed staff at public hospitals let a victim bleed to death because he had tattoos. His opinion was that Cole, also tattooed, would similarly be denied emergency medical care in Honduras and would have only contingent, restricted access to other medical care. The BIA should have considered whether that was so, particularly given evidence in the record that Cole will need medical care in Honduras to deal with complications from his brain injury.