Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T18:54:00.752Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Hunger strikes in prison: a legal perspective for psychiatrists

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 October 2017

G. Gulati ,
D. Whelan ,
E. Spain ,
D. Meagher  and
C. P. Dunne
G. Gulati*
Affiliation:
Graduate Entry Medical School, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
D. Whelan
Affiliation:
School of Law, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
E. Spain
Affiliation:
Faculty of Education and Health Sciences and the School of Law, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
D. Meagher
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Graduate Entry Medical School, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
C. P. Dunne
Affiliation:
Graduate Entry Medical School, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
*
*Address for correspondence: G. Gulati, Graduate Entry Medical School, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland. (Email: [email protected])
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Hunger strikes in a custodial setting are complex to manage clinically, with associated legal and ethical complexities. Hunger strikes in Irish prisons have received, and are likely to continue to be the focus of, considerable media attention. Whilst there is an internationally accepted consensus ethical position, there is limited legal guidance available for psychiatrists to draw upon in such cases. In this paper, we review recent case-law and discuss the legal considerations in the management of prisoners on hunger strike.

Keywords

Detaineehunger strikelawprison
Type
Perspective Piece
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 36 , Issue 1 , March 2019 , pp. 55 - 60
Copyright
© College of Psychiatrists of Ireland 2017 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

References

Beresford, D (1997). Ten Men Dead: The Story of the 1981 Irish Hunger Strike. Atlantic Monthly Press: Boston. ISBN: 13:9780871132697.Google Scholar
Brockman, B (1999). Food refusal in prisoners: a communication or a method of self-killing? The role of the psychiatrist and resulting ethical challenges. Journal of Medical Ethics 25, 451–456.Google Scholar
Carolan, M (2014). Anorexic woman may be force-fed if necessary, judge orders. The Irish Times, 10th November (http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/anorexic-woman-may-be-force-fed-if-necessary-judge-orders-1.1995592). Accessed 12 January 2017.Google Scholar
Carolan, M (2015). High Court order allows tube feeding against will of woman with anorexia. The Irish Times, 25 February (http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/high-court-order-allows-tube-feeding-against-will-of-woman-with-anorexia-1.2117312). Accessed 12 January 2017.Google Scholar
Crosby, SS, Apovian, CM, Grodin, MA (2007). Hunger strikes, force-feeding, and physicians’ responsibilities. Journal of the American Medical Association 298, 563–566.Google Scholar
Department of Justice and Equality (2015). Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015. (http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Assisted_Decision-Making_(Capacity)_Act_2015). Accessed 2 November 2016.Google Scholar
Easton, R (2013). ‘Case in point: the power of autonomy’ Blog Post. Solicitors Journal. (http://www.solicitorsjournal.com/blog/case-point-power-autonomy). Accessed 2 November 2016.Google Scholar
Fazel, S, Seewald, K (2012). Severe mental illness in 33,588 prisoners worldwide: systematic review and meta-regression analysis. British Journal of Psychiatry 200, 364–373.Google Scholar
Fessler, DT (2003). The implications of starvation induced psychological changes for the ethical treatment of hunger strikers. Journal of Medical Ethics 29, 243–247.Google Scholar
García-Guerrero, J, Vera-Remartínez, EJ (2015). Episodes of voluntary total fasting (hunger strike) in Spanish prisons: a descriptive analysis. Journal of Forensic & Legal Medicine 34, 182–186.Google Scholar
Getaz, L, Rieder, JP, Nyffenegger, L, Eytan, A, Gaspoz, J, Wolff, H (2012). Hunger strike among detainees: guidance for good medical practice. Swiss Medical Weekly 142, W13675.Google Scholar
Gulati, G, Kelly, BD, Meagher, D, Kennedy, H, Dunne, CP (2017). Hunger strikes in prisons: a narrative systematic review of ethical considerations from a physician’s perspective. Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, advance online publication. doi: 10.1017/ipm.2017.33.Google Scholar
Health Service Executive (2013). National Consent Policy. ISBN: 978‐1‐906218‐63‐8. (http://www.hse.ie/eng/about/Who/qualityandpatientsafety/National_Consent_Policy/consenttrainerresource/trainerfiles/NationalConsentPolicyM2014.pdf). Accessed 12 January 2017.Google Scholar
Kennedy, I (1995). Commentary: United Kingdom – consent: force feeding of prisoners. Medical Law Review 3, 189–208.Google Scholar
Kennedy, HG, Monks, S, Curtin, K, Wright, B, Linehan, S, Duffy, D, Teljeur, C, Kelly, A (2004). Mental Illness in Irish Prisoners. National Forensic Mental Health Service: Dublin. (http://www.tara.tcd.ie/handle/2262/63924). Accessed 2 November 2016.Google Scholar
Lally, C (2015). Jailed water charges protesters abandon hunger strike. The Irish Times. (http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/jailed-water-charges-protesters abandon-hunger-strike-1.2114548). Accessed 2 November 2016.Google Scholar
Larkin, EP (1991). Food Refusal in Prison. Medical Sciences and Law 31, 41–44.Google Scholar
Mulligan, A (2015). ‘Self-determination, capacity and the right to die by hunger strike: Governor of X Prison v P McD’ 54 Irish Jurist 165.Google Scholar
Sakelliadis, EI, Spiliopoulou, CA, Papadodima, SA (2009). Health care provision in prisons: a review on European and international guidelines. Acta Clinica Belgica 64, 399–405.Google Scholar
Sullivan, D, Romily, C (2009). Hunger strike and food refusal. In Psychiatry in Prisons: A Comprehensive Handbook (ed. I, Cumming and S, Wilson), pp. 155–171. Jessica Kingsley Publishers: London.Google Scholar
The Irish Statute Book (2001). Mental Health Act. (http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2001/act/25/section/3/enacted/en/html#sec3). Accessed 12 January 2017.Google Scholar
The Irish Statute Book (2006). Criminal Law (Insanity) Act. (http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2006/act/11/enacted/en/print.html). Accessed 12 July 2017.Google Scholar
The Medical Council (2016). Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics, 8th edn. (https://issuu.com/mcirl/docs/guide_to_professional_conduct_and_e?e=12642421/35694606). Accessed 12 January 2017.Google Scholar
Whelan, D (2009). Mental Health Law and Practice: Civil and Criminal Aspects. Round Hall: Dublin.Google Scholar
World Medical Association (2006). World Medical Association Declaration on Hunger Strikers (Adopted by the 43rd World Medical Assembly Malta, November 1991 and revised by the WMA General Assembly, Pilanesberg, South Africa 2006) (http://www.wma.net/en/30publications/10policies/h31/). Accessed 2 November 2016.Google Scholar
Yeats, WB (1904). The King’s threshold: and On Baile’s strand. In plays for an Irish Theatre, Volume 3. A.H. Bullen: London.Google Scholar

Cases

A.B. v C.D. (2016) IEHC 541.Google Scholar
Airedale National Health Service Trust v Bland (1993) 1 All ER 821.Google Scholar
Al-Adahi v Obama (D.C. 2009) 596 F. Supp. 2d 111.Google Scholar
B. v Croydon Health Authority (1995) 1 All ER 683.Google Scholar
Breathnach v D.P.P. & ors (2001) IESC 23.Google Scholar
Creighton v Ireland (2010) IESC 50.Google Scholar
Fitzpatrick v F.K. (2008) IEHC 104.Google Scholar
Fleming v Ireland (2013) IESC 19.Google Scholar
Governor of X Prison v P McD (2015) IEHC 259.Google Scholar
In re Caulk (1984) 480 A.2d 93.Google Scholar
Leigh v Gladstone (1909) 26 TLR 139.Google Scholar
Murray v Ireland (1991) ILRM 465.Google Scholar
Nash v Chief Executive of the Irish Prison Service (2015) IEHC 504.Google Scholar
Nevmerzhitsky v Ukraine (2006) 43 EHRR 32 R. v Collins, ex parte Brady [2000] EWHC (Admin) 639.Google Scholar
Secretary of State for Home Department v Robb (1995) 1 All ER 677.Google Scholar
State (McDonagh) v Frawley (1978) IR 131.Google Scholar
Thor v. Superior Court (1993) 855 P.2d 375.Google Scholar