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If the patient is considered mentally competent at this point and is making the decsion to not eat, then I would consider it unethical and even possibly assault to force feed them even though they are endangering their life. One of the things I got out of the Ethics in Health Care classes I took, was that we don't have the right to force treatment even if it is in the patients best interest. A hard thing to accept I know, but there you have it.
Angie, I'm with you on that one. I wonder if anyone has ever seen an actual statistic on how many inmates died from a hunger strike?If they are serving life without parole, or on death row, I say more power to them.
ya, its funny how quick they change their mind when they see ya walk to the cell with three cans of suppliment and an NG.......hehe
I'll bet!
I actually did some research on this after my post, and discovered some people have starved themselves to death in prison. There were several here in the USA during the 1920's, but it's hard to say if they starved themselves to death or if they died from the prison conditions due to a lowered immune system from not eating.
The hunger strikes got a resurgence in the 1980's, but I couldn't find where any of them resulted where a prisoner dies. It happens alot in Europe, but probably doesn't go here b/c most American prisoners live better than people in 3rd world countries.
I'll bet!I actually did some research on this after my post, and discovered some people have starved themselves to death in prison. There were several here in the USA during the 1920's, but it's hard to say if they starved themselves to death or if they died from the prison conditions due to a lowered immune system from not eating.
The hunger strikes got a resurgence in the 1980's, but I couldn't find where any of them resulted where a prisoner dies. It happens alot in Europe, but probably doesn't go here b/c most American prisoners live better than people in 3rd world countries.
Mabye I misread your post but I hardly think its fair to term european countries, 3rd world countries!
Having had experience with hunger strikers, most don't go the distance (in my experience) Funny story: I had one guy who'd declared a hunger strike. In my system, it's not a hunger strike until 72 hours has passed so I told him of this. Looking at the guy: he was overweight and young--I knew he'd never go the distance. I brought him to the clinic during staff meal when we were having a potluck. Sat him within visual and olfactory distance and largely ignored him for about 5-15 min: he was asking for soup within minutes
I see this an old thread, but it is a new issue for me. I am a Nurse Manager of Jail health service. We have a court order, he is 24 days into his strike. Our issue is that we are damned if we do and damned if we don't. Ethically we have been unable to find a an MD who will do it. I haven't dropped a tube in over 20 years. Do i do it and reisk being sued? He has minor children and apparently that has some bearing on a legal outcome. So with this caveat in mind he on one hand states -we can not force feed him (it has literally been called punishment and torture after Gitmo.)- On the other, his children have rights to have him be kept alive. So at this point which is the choice?
2003rn, ASN, RN
59 Posts
What are your thoughts or experiences on force feeding an inmate who refuses to eat? The inmates K+ is dangerously low and he refuses to accept meds and food.