§ Mr. HUGH LAWasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the recent death in Portsmouth Prison of John Prattle; whether this man's death was due, according to the coroner's verdict, to heart disease; whether he had been twice forcibly fed; and whether he had been medically examined before forcible feeding was authorized?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe Secretary of State's attention had not been previously called to this case. On inquiry he finds that the prisoner was committed on remand on a charge of attempting suicide, his second attempt. He appears to have been of unsound mind and could not be persuaded to take food. Food had, therefore, to be administered by force. His heart was tested first, but artificial feeding was in this case the only alternative to allowing him to commit suicide. According to the medical evidence, death was due to heart disease and not in any way to forcible feeding, which probably prolonged his life. The coroner's jury expressed the opinion that he had received every consideration at the hands of the prison officials.