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Govt's guidance on hunger strikes criticised

05/09/2008

A new report published today criticises the Department of Health's guidelines on hunger strikes.

The editorial in the Lancet acknowledges the complicated clinical management of hunger strikes and calls for a clearer understanding of the effects and changes associated with self-induced starvation.

Hunger strikes can on occasion act as an inmate's only form of protest. Today's report claims that it is usually not the striker's aim to die but admits that the situation puts doctors in a difficult position when trying to prevent death.

Force feeding, for example, is prohibition by the World Medical Association (WMA), although, it is reportedly still used at Guantanamo Bay.

The Department of Health is criticised for a lack of emphasis about the importance of doctors in its draft guidelines published later this month.

A doctor whom the striker trusts, and who explains the risks and effects of fasting, can lead to a change of intent, the editorial declares.

"There is a clear and urgent need for guidelines on the clinical management of hunger strikers to be disseminated to all medical workers who may need them, and for the guidelines to be followed," the report says.

"Crucially, independent medical assessment of hunger strikers must become a routine part of their care. Prisoners or detainees who choose to become hunger strikers are entitled, worldwide, to the highest clinical standards of care available. Force feeding has no place in that care."