Force-feeding is the practice of feeding a human or other animal against their will. The term "
gavage" refers to the supplying of a nutritional substance by means of a small plastic
feeding tube passed through the nose (
nasogastric) or mouth (orogastric) into the stomach. In hospitals, some psychiatric patients can also be restrained so that sedatives can be injected into them; this happens if patients have been non-compliant with their instructions.