forcefed

Force-feeding is the act of feeding a person or animal against their will or without consent. In human contexts, it usually refers to medical or custodial situations in which nutrition or fluids are delivered by artificial means, rather than by voluntary eating. It can also describe practices historically used by authorities to compel nourishment during hunger strikes. In animals, force-feeding describes procedures used to deliver food or liquids when an animal cannot eat on its own or for production purposes, such as in some farming operations.

Medical use: In clinical care, nutrition may be delivered through a nasogastric or orogastric tube, or via gastrostomy access. Indications include coma, stroke, severe dysphagia, or prolonged inability to swallow, as well as preoperative preparation or recovery from illness. Consent and patients’ rights are central in most jurisdictions. When capacity is lacking, decisions are made by surrogates or by clinicians under legal guidelines. Risks include aspiration of contents, infection, discomfort, and tube-related complications.

Ethics and law: Force-feeding raises questions about autonomy, bodily integrity, and the right to refuse treatment. International and national guidelines typically emphasize voluntary feeding where possible; coercive or mandatory feeding is controversial and often restricted or prohibited in medical ethics codes. In the context of prisons or detainees, force-feeding has sparked debate and legal challenges, with treatment framed as a human-rights and welfare issue in many jurisdictions.

Animal welfare: In agriculture, forced feeding is most associated with gavage practices used to enlarge the liver in some birds for certain products. The practice is widely criticized by animal welfare groups and is banned or restricted in many countries, while remaining legal in others under specific conditions.

Overall, force-feeding spans medical, legal, ethical, and welfare dimensions. It is typically framed by the balance between the aims of preserving life or health and respect for autonomy and welfare considerations.