Israel passes law allowing forcefedding of prisoners

According to Immigration Minister Phillip Ruddock, on the figures he had available to him yesterday, last year authorities issued about 40 instruments for compulsory medical treatment, most for rehydration and only one for naso-gastro tubulation. However the Minister couldn't provide figures for the previous years.

COUTTS: What are the legalities do you know Ian about force feeding?

RINTOUL: Well, under Australian law, under the Migration act, there actually is the possibility of force feeding. The Department actually authorising force feeding. But as we understand that there is no such regulation and no such provision in any laws in Nauru.

There is a very strong statement from international health bodies, including the world body which represents doctors to say that it is unethical for doctors to intervene in a hunger strike, in these kind of circumstances, if there has been an express statement of someone who is capable of saying that they do want to continue a hunger strike, whether they're conscious or not.

COUTTS: Well, doctors also have the legal thing, charter that they sign, Do No Harm and this will do no harm is they don't intervene?

RINTOUL: That's exactly right. I mean there's been a lot of discussion about this internationally for and in recent years it has been predominantly asylum seekers and new people. There have been other political people who have resorted to hunger strikes as part of their protest and statement about their political situation. Actually at the moment, we've got hunger strikes in Berlin and Athens by asylum seekers and there's a big hunger strike happening in Turkey over Kurdish issues and there's been a lot in Australia where there's been a lot of discussion by doctors and the ethics of doctors and nurses actually intervening in hunger strikes by asylum seekers. So there's a very clear statement. I think doctors will be be very reluctant if there has been an expressed statement from the man that he just does not want to be treated. But we have seen situations in Australia where people have been force fed, but we'll just have to see how this plays out on Nauru at the moment. I mean we hope that the government actually intervenes much sooner before that becomes necessary.

The policy states that doctors should refuse to participate in, condone, or give permission for torture, degradation, or cruel treatment of prisoners or detainees. According to the policy, a prisoner who refuses to eat should not be fed artificially against his will, provided that he or she is judged to be rational.