Physicians have ethical duty of respect ...
Physicians have ethical duty of respect for the hunger strikers. Prison doctors need to be able to act independently from the prison authorities if they are to carry out their work effectively. Trust is a key issue when dealing with hunger strikers. The physician will often have to act as mediator between prisoner, authorities and even family members. They, furthermore, have specific clinical duties to perform and will often be in a position to facilitate face-saving opportunities for the benefit of all involved.
Physicians have to know and fully understand the background of international guidelines for doctors set down by the World Medical Association. In some particularly complex situations, physicians must use their sound and moral judgment so as best to help hunger strikers in their care - sometimes at the risk of being perceived as paternalistic.
Finally, physicians need to know the different stages of total fasting, so as to be able to give medical counseling to such hunger strikers. Issues such as when or when not to resuscitate; the difference between artificial and force feeding; when to medically monitor a hunger striker in hospital; are all issues that need to be clearly understood by any physician involved in caring for hunger strikers