Death and the hunger striker
Death and the hunger striker
Hunger strikers by definition do not want to die. Political hunger strikers also fast for a cause, but in some cases are willing to accept death if they do not get it. Food refusers merely want to protest.
The term death fast has been used increasingly in political hunger strikes, to designate a prisoner’s willingness to fast until death if necessary. The term is unfortunate, because it gives a foregone conclusion to the protest fasting. This is often reinforced by authorities, the media or even prisoners themselves all – for different reasons – eager to proclaim the prisoners are going to starve themselves to death.
This frame of mind and terminology only contributes to the already-mentioned troublesome confusion between hunger strikes and suicides. It wrongly instates death as the objective of the fast, which distorts any constructive dialogue, and may well turn off physicians otherwise willing to mediate a solution. Worse of all, it hastens a stand off and is most often seen as an unacceptable ultimatum, leaving little or no leeway for discussion. Physicians need room for bedside maneuverability, particularly in complex political – or politicized – situations.
If the fasting lasts long enough for there to be medical complications, it is the duty of the bedside physician to do more than merely take notes and monitor vital signs. There is need for the doctor to do his or her best to enter into a serious discussion with each hunger striker. As has been said, this may not be possible with a prison doctor. Access to prisoners by an independent, outside doctor may not be possible. It cannot be stressed enough that the privacy of the medical consultation is of paramount importance, so as to avoid any meddling or coercion, from any side, and for physicians to be able to play their role. When neither inside nor outside local doctors can play this role, it may be necessary to have help from a perceived neutral organization, such as doctors from the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross), Council of Europe CPT (Committee for Prevention of Torture and Inhuman degrading treatment and Punishment) or similar organizations.