SPOKANE – A Spokane County Jail inmate who has refused to eat for more than four months was returned to his cell Friday after hospital officials decided he was still too well to force-feed.
Charles McNabb, 50, has lost about 90 pounds since he stopped eating solid food in early February, reportedly out of remorse over injuries a stepdaughter suffered in an arson, jailers said.
County officials obtained a court order that allows McNabb to be force-fed if hospital doctors think it is necessary to save his life. He was returned to his cell Friday morning after being held overnight for observation at Sacred Heart Medical Center, jail commander Capt. Dick Collins said.
Collins said the jail’s medical staff believes that McNabb has lost enough weight that the court-approved force-feeding should begin. They believe McNabb’s organs will begin to fail if the force-feeding doesn’t start soon.
But doctors at Sacred Heart will make the final decision. The hospital won’t involuntarily feed McNabb unless his condition is near critical.
“We’re just playing human ping-pong with him,” Collins said. “When he gets to the hospital, it is up to the hospital to make that decision.”
It was the second time this week that the jail’s medical staff has sent McNabb to the hospital only to have him returned without being involuntarily fed.
McNabb is scheduled to stand trial next month on a first-degree arson charge and six counts of first-degree assault stemming from a May 23, 2003, fire at his estranged wife’s home that severely burned a 17-year-old stepdaughter.
Through his civil attorney, McNabb has gone to court to demand the right to refuse to eat.
A state Court of Appeals panel has agreed to expedite its review of McNabb’s appeal of the court order allowing a hospital to force-feed him. The hearing has not been scheduled.
Collins said McNabb sporadically began refusing to eat solid food in November, but hasn’t eaten solid food since Feb. 5. He drinks water and occasionally coffee, Collins said. He is on suicide watch, in which jailers check on him every 15 minutes.
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