Today i examined Mr.Kostas Sakkas,29 years old,who’s an inmate under treatment in the G.H.Nikaias.He’s in its 31st day of hunger strike.He has lost a total of 13 Kgr of body weight,corresponding to over 15% of body weight he had when he started to refrain from feeding.
He is experiencing profound fatigue,weakness and in the last days shows inability to concentrate.He can’t read for a long time,as before.Exhibits a small swelling in the lower extremities during pressure.His blood pressure remains low and he has often bradycardia.Dry eyes and persistent constipation.Yesterday exhibited low grade fever which resolved per se.
The laboratory results indicated that the low specific weight of urine persists,while the physical examination emphasizes the incipient increase in skin-fold,which is a direct sign of loss of subcutaneous fat and muscle tissue.
Once again is indicated that the degree of risk is extremely high for K.Sakkas.The probability of irreversible damage to the body increases exponentially as the abstinence from feeding is prolonged.The relevant medical literature,after the 10th day (K.Sakkas undergoing 31) and 10% loss of body weight (K.Sakkas has lost more than 15% of body weight),suggests high caution and measures(labeled with red flag).
It is a mathematical certainty that the continuation of abstaining from food will lead to certain death.
Olga Kosmopoulou
Pathologist A curator NHS