British Section of the World Federation of Doctors Who Respect Human Life

Doctors yesterday vowed to face prison rather than obey new ‘backdoor euthanasia’ laws that would force them to let their patients die.” (Daily Mail, 31 March 07). “They said they would ignore the Mental Capacity Act which comes into force tomorrow. The Act allows patients to instruct doctors that they wish to refuse treatment if their condition worsens. . . Those – including nurses – refusing to obey the instructions wold be open to prosecution for assault.” The Catholic Sentinel earlier reported: “Dr. Peter Saunders … says he’s concerned about patients who will make advance decisions to have food and fluids taken away without knowing the facts. . . It is too easy for patients to be driven by fears of meddlesome treatment and ‘being kept alive’, into making advance refusals that later might be used against them’ ” (12 July 2006). Lasting powers of attorney, another part of the Act, could give relatives the power to refuse treatment, including food and fluid, to helpless patients.

The Daily Mail continued: “Peter Saunders, of the Christian Medical Fellowship, which represents 4,500 medics, said: ‘I know a number of doctors who will not stand by and allow their patients to die and who will risk criminal prosecution.’

“Philip Howard, a London gastroenterology consultant, said that he would not withdraw nutrition and hydration, even when it was specified in an advance decision. ‘No patient should die as a result of dehydration and no patient should be alowed to die in a state of unrelieved thirst,’ he insisted.

“Consultant geriatric psychiatrist Adrian Treloar said ‘If I am asked, will I kill a patient under the Mental Capacity Act? The answer is “no”.’”

The new UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities should give these doctors some support. It was passed by the General Assembly on 13 December 06 and signed by the British Government in March 2007, but is not yet ratified. Article 25(f) lays down that States which are Parties to the Convention must “Prevent discriminatory denial of health care or health services or food and fluids on the basis of disability.”