To die or not to die could soon become the prerogative of the terminally ill patients in the UK to decide for themselves. Any doctors who ignores their wishes could risk being struck off the rolls.
To die or not to die could soon become the prerogative of the terminally ill patients in the UK to decide for themselves. Any doctors who ignores their wishes could risk being struck off the rolls.
New guidelines for medical staff say doctors should discuss all options with patients and relatives over 'end of life' care.End of life care includes refusing treatment for terminally ill patients and turning off life support machines.
The General Medical Council (GMC) advice will be published this month and applies to 150,000 practising doctors. It covers all life-threatening conditions including brain damage.
Interestingly the document does not cover assisted suicide or actively helping a patient to die but it does raise issues about the right of patients to refuse treatment.
The GMC said it expected doctors to take all 'reasonable steps' to consider a patient's wishes in delicate cases. This includes withdrawing life support for patients unlikely to recover.
Mexico Lures Foreigners Seeking Euthanasia Drug
At least 200 terminally-ill people from Australia, Britain, New Zealand and the United States have visited Mexico since 2001 to buy a cheap, widely available euthanasia drug, a newspaper has said.
At least 200 terminally-ill people from Australia, Britain, New Zealand and the United States have visited Mexico since 2001 to buy a cheap, widely available euthanasia drug, a newspaper has said.
Doctors' leaders today said they would back the new guidance and that end of life care was 'a grey area'.
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