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I believe it was Charles II who when asked whom he trusted most in his kingdom replied; "my barber, because he has a knife at my throat every morning." Those who are given such power over another's life must first be trustworthy. That is why for 2500 years doctors have sworn to uphold essential principles, the most important of which is, in simple language: "I will not kill anyone." How tragic then that official guidance from the General Medical Council should suggest that this is not a universal principle, even for doctors. How right that Leslie Burke should want the GMC guidance changed, to be assured that his life will not be cut short by doctors. Did David Glass' doctors override his mother's firm refusal of consent to administer diamorphine to her disabled son, to save his life? - Clearly not. Dr Keith Andrews, Director of one of the country's foremost neuro-disability centres, speaking at an international congress in Rome, accepted the Airedale v. Bland decision to dehydrate and starve to death living patients in PVS. Rev. Joanna Jepson has to challenge the legality of late abortion for minor disability. Is not the greatest scandal of our time that a member of the medical profession should ever kill any child at whatever stage of life or degree of ability?
We note in the USA, the people supporting "Terri's Law" reacting against doctors denying sustenance to cognitively disabled people. Norma McCorvey alias "Jane Roe" is campaigning to overturn the Roe v. Wade decision in the US, and we learn that Sandra Cano alias "Mary Doe" also attacked the Doe v. Bolton decision. The reaction will come, yet at present in this country the Joffe Bill which seeks to allow "medical (sic) assistance to die" has been granted a select committee inquiry by the House of Lords.
The law is indeed a blunt instrument, and what fools are doctors who imagine that sheltering behind it can justify actions, which infringe the ethics of their profession. The case of R v. Bourne in 1939 was to abortion what Airedale v. Bland is to euthanasia. Mr Alec Bourne later regretted his part in opening the floodgates to abortion and campaigned against the 1967 Abortion Act. We venture to hope that Tony Bland's doctors regret what they helped to start.
A doctor's duty is to maintain health and prevent, alleviate or cure disease as far as he can, but above all, to care. Every patient is equally important regardless of size or shape, social position, colour, creed, politics or ability, but we should seek to serve especially the most vulnerable, the most deprived; the most severely disabled, the most seriously ill, those who suffer most, and those who are nearest to death. The medical profession does exist, but GMC registration is no longer sufficient identification. Doctors have to be guided by authority above that of lawyers and politicians, and be conscientious and open. That is why in the present state of ethical confusion, "Doctors who Respect Human Life" is vital.
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