Striking inmate is hospitalized again
Spokane County sheriff’s officials on Thursday again transported to a hospital an inmate who is trying to starve himself to death.
Charles Robert McNabb, 50, has lost about half his 180 pounds since he started his hunger strike in early February. He faces a July trial for first-degree arson and six counts of first-degree assault in connection with a May 23, 2003, fire that severely burned his 17-year-old stepdaughter.
The hunger strike has led to an extensive legal battle between the county, which wants to keep McNabb alive, and his civil defense attorney, who has argued that McNabb has a right to not eat. But there’s also a difference of opinion between doctors.
Jail Commander Dick Collins said the jail’s medical staff believes that McNabb has lost enough weight that it’s time to start court-approved force-feeding. But the final decision on whether McNabb is near critical condition will be made by doctors at Sacred Heart Medical Center.
“It’s going to be a chess game,” Collins said. “We will take him down there; let them evaluate him to see if he’s critical. If they don’t do anything, they will send him back here.”
Jail staff first transported McNabb to the hospital Tuesday only to have him returned to the jail Tuesday night.
David Blair-Loy, McNabb’s civil attorney, said it’s appropriate to leave the final call to doctors at Sacred Heart.
“The physicians there are in the best position to make any necessary decisions,” Blair-Loy said. “He seems to be on this merry-go-round between the jail and the hospital. I would obviously prefer … the most minimal amount of disruption.”
McNabb has told jail staff that he feels remorse for the fire that was started with Coleman fuel. It left burns on 23 percent of his stepdaughter’s body.
According to court documents, McNabb hasn’t eaten food since Feb. 5, except for three days while at Eastern State Hospital, when he ate food to avoid being force-fed. Collins said McNabb started rejecting solid food as early as last November.
Since earlier this year, McNabb has only taken water and an occasional cup of coffee, he said.
Sheriff Mark Sterk previously said it was the first time any Spokane County Jail inmate has attempted suicide by starvation.
Collins said jail officials fear that McNabb’s body will begin to shut down if the force-feeding doesn’t start soon. Since he is on suicide watch, jailers check on him every 15 minutes.
“One of my sergeants has stopped to talk to him on a daily basis,” Collin said. “She stopped in (Tuesday) night, and he didn’t even recognize her. It can’t be good.”