Doctors given 'right to die' guidance

Pa
Monday 29 April 2002 19:00 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The General Medical Council has issued guidelines to help doctors decide when it might be appropriate to withhold or withdraw treatment from a patient.

The guidelines, drawn up by the GMC's standards committee, aimed to provide a legal and ethical framework for medical staff trying to decide, in consultation with the individual and his or her relatives, whether a patient had a right to die.

The guidance follows a High Court ruling in the case of a woman known only as Miss B, who wanted doctors to halt her treatment, although doing so would lead to her death.

The court ruled she was mentally capable, and so had the right to tell doctors to turn her ventilator off. Miss B died peacefully last week, it emerged yesterday.

The spokeswoman said: "The Miss B case is one where the guidelines would be particularly applicable. We have been working on it for some time now and it will go to council in May for final approval."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in