George Markin, Mrs. Astaforff's brother, said yesterday in an interview from Grand Forks, B.C., that the Sons of Freedom community is in shock and believes an injustice was done. "The intention of the Canadian Government is they seem to think the (prisoners) can fast until they die," he said. "It's wrong. They should have been force-fed, or the problem of the Doukhobors should have been resolved." Mr.

Hunger-striking Doukhobor woman refused 11th hour aid

Tuesday, November 26, 1985

JOHN CRUICKSHANK and RITA MOIR

Vancouver BC -- BY JOHN CRUICKSHANK and RITA MOIR The Globe and Mail VANCOUVER Mary Astaforoff, an imprisoned 71-year- old Freedomite Doukhobor, refused nourishment and medical treatment half an hour before her death on the 48th day of a hunger strike.

Mrs. Astaforoff died in Mission Memorial Hospital on Sunday afternoon little more than an hour after being transferred from the medical ward of Matsqui Federal Penitentiary in Abbotsford, B.C., with respiratory problems.

The Doukhobor woman was serving a 10- year term for arson and had spent more than 22 years of her life in prison for arson, nude protests and contempt of court.

Dr. Real Prefontaine, Pacific region health-care manager for Corrections Canada, said Mrs. Astaforoff surprised doctors by remaining conscious almost until she died.

As a matter of policy, Corrections Canada does not force nourishment on mentally competent patients who reject it, Dr. Prefontaine said.

Before 1983, hunger strikers were sometimes force-fed. But in a 1983 court case involving Mrs. Astaforoff, the B.C. Court of Appeal refused to order the provincial Government to force-feed the Doukhobor woman.

Dr. Prefontaine said the policy of Corrections Canada now is to abide by the wishes of mentally competent inmates who refuse medical services. As soon as the inmate loses consciousness, medical attention and nourishment are provided, he said. ''In effect, force-feeding is out," Dr. Prefontaine said, ''but any physician will intervene in the case of an unconscious patient." Mrs. Astaforoff refused to accept oxygen for her respiratory problem during the transfer from prison and died so soon after losing consciousness that no treatment could be administered, he said.

Dr. Craig Arnold, registrar of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia, said doctors cannot force medical treatment on their patients. ''Our position is that people have the right to receive or reject treatment as they see fit as long as they are mentally competent to make a judgment," Dr. Arnold said.

George Markin, Mrs. Astaforff's brother, said yesterday in an interview from Grand Forks, B.C., that the Sons of Freedom community is in shock and believes an injustice was done. "The intention of the Canadian Government is they seem to think the (prisoners) can fast until they die," he said. "It's wrong. They should have been force-fed, or the problem of the Doukhobors should have been resolved." Mr. Markin said the family had been assured by Robin Bourne, an assistant deputy minister in the Attorney-General's Ministry, that Mrs. Astaforoff would not be allowed to die. He said Mr. Bourne told Lucy Hoodicoff, the prisoner's sister, that Mrs. Astaforoff was under 24-hour nursing supervision and the family should not worry. "If they were sincere (in wanting) to keep her alive, they could have done something," Mr. Markin said. "She was very close to death when they took her to the hospital." He said a prison priest told him that Mrs. Astaforoff was unconscious when she was taken to the hospital, but Thomas D'Aquino, a spokesman for Corrections Canada, maintains that she was alert and conscious, although having trouble breathing.

Mr. D'Aquino said she had been drinking only water until several days before she died, but then started taking her first nourishment, some orange and lemon slices. He does not believe she was trying to end her fast.

Sons of Freedom have used arson, bombs and fasting as means of protest since they entered Canada as Russian exiles at the turn of the century.

Three other Sons of Freedom prisoners have died during hunger strikes in Canada since 1902.

Mr. Markin said the Doukhobors have been oppressed by governments since their land was taken from them in Saskatchewan, their leader was assassinated in 1924 and their children were taken from home and forced to attend schools in the 1950s.

Mrs. Astaforoff's brother said the family has not decided whether to bring her body home or to leave it for the prison authorities to bury.

An inquest is to be held in early January.

Two other Sons of Freedom, Mary Braun and Tina Jmaieff, both sentenced to eight years in another arson case, are in weak condition on the 50th day of their fast in the Matsqui prison. ( John Cruickshank is a Globe and Mail reporter. Rita Moir is a freelance writer based in Winlaw, B.C.)