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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: gautam.gulati@hse.ie)
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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 

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References

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