Another right-to-live case could have huge impact in UK
Publish date: 15 October 2004
Issue Number: 1196
Diary: Legalbrief Today
Category: Corruption
In the wake of the Charlotte Wyatt right-to-live case in the UK, the British Medical Association has raised concerns about a similar case going to the Court of Appeal, according to a report in The Independent.
A judge ruled recently that the hospital caring for desperately ill 11-month-old Charlotte would no longer have to try to revive her because she was in such severe pain, despite the wishes of her parents that she be kept alive. In the latest case, a court has ruled in favour of Leslie Burke (44), a former postman from Lancaster who is suffering from a degenerative, incurable brain disease, and who believes that when he nears death and is unable to communicate, doctors will stop giving him food and water. A judge ruled in July that it was unlawful for doctors to withhold nutrition against his wishes. The ruling is being appealed, but if the appeal is lost hospitals fear the NHS will have to pay huge bills for prolonging the lives of the dying against the professional views of doctors. Full report in The Independent
