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{"id":1218,"date":"2005-07-29T17:02:25","date_gmt":"2005-07-29T21:02:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/theanchoressonline.com\/2005\/07\/29\/uk-doctors-get-the-final-word\/"},"modified":"2015-03-13T20:46:04","modified_gmt":"2015-03-13T20:46:04","slug":"uk-doctors-get-the-final-word","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/theanchoress\/2005\/07\/29\/uk-doctors-get-the-final-word\/","title":{"rendered":"UK Doctors get the “final” word"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

This is a very troubling ruling<\/a><\/p>\n

The General Medical Council has won its appeal against a ruling which gave a seriously-ill patient the right to stop doctors withdrawing food and drink.<\/em><\/p>\n

Leslie Burke, 45, who has a degenerative brain condition, fears artificial nutrition could be stopped against his wishes when he cannot talk.<\/p>\n

Mr Burke, from Lancaster, had won a landmark ruling, supporting his right to artificial nutrition and hydration.<\/p>\n

But the GMC appealed, saying doctors could be put in an impossible position.<\/p>\n

Following the Appeal Court verdict, the GMC said it hoped Mr Burke was now reassured he would receive the treatment he needs, including artificial nutrition and hydration and that nothing in its guidance prevented this.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t see how Mr. Burke could possibly be reassured, though, given this:<\/p>\n

But during the appeal hearing, Philip Havers, QC, representing the GMC, said the original ruling had fundamentally altered the nature of doctor\/patient relationships and was not in the best interests of the patient.<\/em><\/p>\n

He said doctors would have to provide treatment which they knew would be of no benefit or could even be harmful.<\/p>\n

GMC president Professor Sir Graeme Catto said \u201cPatients should be reassured by this judgement which emphasises the partnership needed to resolve end of life issues.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOur guidance makes it clear that patients should never be discriminated against on the grounds of disability.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sounds like words that really don\u2019t mean anything, to me. The bottom line is, when Mr. Burke loses control of his body \u2013 but not his mind \u2013 a doctor can decide, \u201cwell, he can\u2019t walk, can\u2019t talk, what good is he, here? I wouldn\u2019t want to live like him; let\u2019s stop nourishment and hydration and take him off the public dole\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

C\u2019mon now, you\u2019re not really going to try to convince me that that won\u2019t happen?<\/p>\n

Junkyardblog think\u2019s this is a bad ruling<\/a> too.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"