The state Supreme Court says a jail inmate who was starving himself did not have a right to refuse force-feeding. But the court is split on whether the state only has the right to force-feed prisoners in certain circumstances.
Four of the justices say the state had a right to force-feed Charles McNabb because he was trying to commit suicide.
Four others argue that McNabb's privacy rights were not violated by the force-feeding because he was not terminally ill and has no right refuse life-sustaining treatment.
One dissenting justice argues that McNabb had a right to refuse force-feeding under privacy rights guaranteed by the state constitution.
Interesting in light of Washington States pro-euthanasia stance. |