從過去到現在，世界各地利用絕食作為表達抗議的行為不時發生，雖然其動機與目的不盡相同，但是利用的手段則是一致－自發性的拒絕食物。絕食不僅使人外觀形體消瘦，且造成體內生化代謝改變及神經系統功能異常，進而可能危及生命安全。對絕食者的健康照顧並不僅只是提供照護，也牽涉著醫務人員在醫療倫理和醫護管理等複雜因素。所以不當的醫護處理，可能冒犯絕食者的尊嚴，使其身心更進一步的受創。因此本文除了探討絕食對人體生理功能產生的變化及影響外，同時也探討其中的護理議題。希望藉由這些對絕食抗爭的相關文獻，來探討醫護人員對絕食抗爭者，所能提供的醫療照護、注意事項及原則。

　　　　　The use of hunger strike as a tool to assert grievances has been around for ages and has occasionally happened in the world. Hunger strikers' motives may differ, but their tool is the same the voluntary refusal of food. Fasting not only results in body weight loss, but also in physiological and neurological function changes, and, of course, it may even threaten life. The health care of hunger strikers is complex. It involves medical staff, medical ethics and guidance for the management of the hunger strikers. Improper medical management may not only undermine the hunger striker's dignity but also risk further damage to his or her health. By understanding hunger strikers' physiological changes and related ethical issues, therefore, we aim to identify appropriate forms of nursing care management and guidance for the care of hunger strikers.