Year: 1981 Source: Hastings Center Report, (December 1981), p.5-8 SIEC No: 19840180

The ethical position of attending doctors in the Maze Prison hunger strike of Northern Ireland is explored. Conflicting political views of British & Irish are considered factors. The context of British law is applied to issues of force feeding, strike-affected mental competency of prisoners, the real goal of striking, family intervention, prisoner autonomy & beliefs. No clear ethical guidance exists for doctors. The strike was suspended when families said they would consent to intervention. (RP)