SACRAMENTO (July 9, 2013) – Following the mass hunger strikes of 2011, California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) in collaboration with California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) developed policies, procedures and care guides for use during similar future incidents. Those tools will be used as needed this month if the widespread refusal of state-issued food by inmates becomes an organized hunger strike. These resources rely on teamwork from both organizations to delineate the roles of health care and custody staff during a mass organized hunger strike in order to ensure the provision of needed health care.
The purpose of the care guide is to:
- Provide appropriate medical care to patients participating in a mass hunger strike.
- Identify patients at risk during fasting.
- Identify patients at risk for refeeding syndrome.
- Safely refeed patients after fasting.
- Provide patient education on the risks of fasting.
The implementation of these resources has resulted in a more efficient and cost effective process to ensure continuity of care and decrease the disruption to daily operations.
Background:
A Mass Organized Hunger Strike is defined as including multiple inmates who have a common goal or set of demands. A mass hunger strike disrupts institution operations and
requires statewide or institutional mobilization to effectively and safely evaluate and manage the health needs of patient-inmates.
Mass Hunger Strike Participant is defined by CDCR as an inmate who has refused nine consecutive state-issued meals.
Refeeding Syndrome is metabolic disturbances that occur as a result of reintroducing nutrition to patients who are starved or severely malnourished.