Forced feeding in Guantanamo Bay

May 22, 2013

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Since February 2013, over 20 people held in custody in Guantanamo Bay have been in hunger strike. There are reports that the US has sent in doctors and nurses, who assist in forced feeding, a recogniced violation of human rights and a breach of medical ethics.

IFHHRO sent a letter of concern to the US Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel, to demand an immediate and unconditional stop of forced feeding in Guantanamo Bay and a discharge of doctors, nurses and any other medical professional involved.

The World Medical Association in its Tokyo Declaration states that when a person is capable of forming a unimpaired and rational judgment about the consequences, doctors shall not be involved in forced feeding. Health professionals shall only play the role of the patient’s advocate. 

Read the letter