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August 20, 2013

Judge Approves Force-Feeding of California Prison Hunger Strikers 
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In California, a federal judge has ruled prison doctors can begin
force-feeding some prisoners participating in a weeks-long hunger strike
to protest long-term isolation and other harsh conditions. The judge's
order permits the force-feeding of prisoners deemed incapable of making
medical decisions. It also allows prison officials to ignore the written
directives of some prisoners who have refused such treatment based on
claims the prisoners signed the "do not resuscitate" orders under
coercion. Force-feeding has been condemned as a form torture by the
United Nations. At its peak, the California hunger strike included some
30,000 prisoners. About 130 are currently participating.

 

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