Reply To: Why force feed?

Recognizing that hunger strikes cause this kind of reaction is a fact. And recognizing that fact was the basis of the answer to your question, which, if I may remind you, was:

If a prisoner wants to commit suicide by starving him/herself, why stop them?

I need no reminder. Where does my question indicate anything of the sort?

in reality they’re not dying for the cause but rather trying to scare their wardens into freeing them from jail.

Actually, in most cases not. In Bobby Sands case….

Actually, in most cases yes. But it’s a good thing you got in Bobby Sands again.

Your answer is that the arresting image of someone committing suicide in jail chokes up his buddies and the media, so rather than risk that terrible PR, the government force feeds him. Why don’t you cut all your pretty words out and write normally, and have your points driven across effectively?

Joseph: According to the shittos that suicide is permitted, by logical extension it would have to mean that there’s no chiyuv pikuach nefesh on one’s self, and it should be muttar to not eat, whereas other people are muzhar on lo sa’amod al dam raiecha and it would be prohibited.