This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/28/doctors-must-reject-force-feeding
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Doctors must reject force-feeding | Doctors must reject force-feeding |
| (4 months later) | |
| Our profession holds humanitarian values at the centre of our work, so we were heartened to hear President Obama's pledge to close Guantánamo Bay. However, years later, detainees are still being held (Report, 24 May). The situation has become worse, with inmates on a hunger strike and reportedly being force-fed. | Our profession holds humanitarian values at the centre of our work, so we were heartened to hear President Obama's pledge to close Guantánamo Bay. However, years later, detainees are still being held (Report, 24 May). The situation has become worse, with inmates on a hunger strike and reportedly being force-fed. |
| Any medical professional knows that patients with capacity to consent can refuse a treatment even if it is life-saving. Because of its invasive nature, the World Medical Association has repeatedly condemned force-feeding of competent prisoners. In its Malta declaration on hunger strikers, adopted in 1991 and revised in 2006, in large part because of developments at Guantánamo, the WMA states: "Even if intended to benefit, feeding accompanied by threats, coercion, force or use of physical restraints is a form of inhuman and degrading treatment." The American Medical Association, a member of the WMA, has endorsed these unequivocal principles. AMA president Dr Jeremy Lazarus has said the force-feeding procedure at Guantánamo "violates core ethical values of the medical profession". The UN has condemned force-feeding as both a form of torture and a breach of international law. | Any medical professional knows that patients with capacity to consent can refuse a treatment even if it is life-saving. Because of its invasive nature, the World Medical Association has repeatedly condemned force-feeding of competent prisoners. In its Malta declaration on hunger strikers, adopted in 1991 and revised in 2006, in large part because of developments at Guantánamo, the WMA states: "Even if intended to benefit, feeding accompanied by threats, coercion, force or use of physical restraints is a form of inhuman and degrading treatment." The American Medical Association, a member of the WMA, has endorsed these unequivocal principles. AMA president Dr Jeremy Lazarus has said the force-feeding procedure at Guantánamo "violates core ethical values of the medical profession". The UN has condemned force-feeding as both a form of torture and a breach of international law. |
| Medical professionals performing these procedures in Guantánamo are violating their professional code of conduct and the duties of a doctor, and so would be liable to scrutiny by their medical regulation body as a breach of their duties, and are breaking international law. Dr Ihtesham Sabri Dr D Nicholl Dr F Haque Dr M Khan Dr A Farooq Dr M Faraaz | Medical professionals performing these procedures in Guantánamo are violating their professional code of conduct and the duties of a doctor, and so would be liable to scrutiny by their medical regulation body as a breach of their duties, and are breaking international law. Dr Ihtesham Sabri Dr D Nicholl Dr F Haque Dr M Khan Dr A Farooq Dr M Faraaz |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
Previous version
1
Next version