Brian Jesse Willner, 31, alleges prison authorities performed an illegal search and a hospital later committed “medical battery” against him.

According to his complaint, Willner was strip searched at Luzerne County Correctional facility, Pennsylvania, in October 2015 and officers saw a “large white package” protruding from him.

When he refused to remove the package, he was taken to a hospital where it was removed and opened, turning up a syringe, 14 stimulant pills, 40 packets of heroin and a pack of rolling papers.

But Willner’s lawyer says the procedure was not authorised by a warrant and doctors did not wait to see if the package would pass naturally.