Is it unethical to force-feed hunger strikers? Many ethicists regarded force-feeding of detainees at Guantanamo as tantamount to torture. But in Switzerland, a hunger-striking cannabis farmer has put a bizarre twist on a complex issue.

Bernard Rappaz, 57, has been on a hunger strike for more than 80 days in protest at a prison sentence he considers too high. He is a well-known figure in Switzerland. In 2008 he was convicted of having 51 tons of hemp valued at US$38 million. He was sentenced to 5 years and 8 months imprisonment. Then began a series of hunger strikes in prison and recuperation under house arrest.

After he was charged with even more offences, he was jailed again and began his current hunger strike. So far, doctors in two hospitals have refused to force-feed him. His stand has become a huge controversy in Switzerland.

The doctors insist that force-feeding is unethical. But a criminal law professor at Zurich University, Christian Schwarzenegger, believes that "Under Article 292 of the Penal Code on insubordination, judges should prosecute any doctors refusing to force feed Rappaz…”

Many Swiss think that Rappaz is holding them hostage. According to opinion polls, about 65% of Swiss think that force-feeding Mr Rappaz is unethical. But about 65% also think that he should not be released from jail on humanitarian grounds. Rappaz has asked for clemency from the parliament of the canton of Valois. But on Thursday, this was refused by an overwhelming majority. “When you do something bad, you have to pay for it,” said one MP unsympathetically.

Will he die like the 10 IRA hunger-strikers in 1981? If doctors continue to refuse on ethical grounds, quite possibly? ~ SwissInfo, Nov 17; thanks to Johann Roduit for tip