British man loses right-to-live case
Publish date: 02 August 2005
Issue Number: 1390
Diary: Legalbrief Today
Category: Human rights
A British Appeal Court has upheld a challenge by the General Medical Council against a ruling which gave a seriously-ill patient the right to stop doctors withdrawing food and drink.
BBC News reports Leslie Burke (45), who has a degenerative brain condition, fears artificial nutrition could be stopped against his wishes when he cannot talk. Burke had won a landmark ruling, supporting his right to artificial nutrition and hydration. But the GMC appealed, saying doctors could be put in an impossible position. Full report by BBC News
