I lost a rescue ball to starvation--it was given to us completely emaciated, and after a day of rehydrating it, we assist-fed it. It did not survive the night after that--too far gone to digest the meal. Very sad.
I see no reason to allow a ball python to get into that condition in the first place. The solution is a big syringe, a rubber tube, and a package of 'Carnivore Care'.