Mercy killing. Assisted suicide. The dependent patient. Withholding treatment. The practice of medicine and the civil and criminal law. Legal protection for patients and doctors. The role of judges. The role of politicians.
BurnsS. The death of humanity?New Law J2012; 162: 1146–1146.
2.
Lord Judge LCJ in R v Inglis (2010) EWCA Crim 2637, para 39.
3.
Nicklinson R. v Ministry of Justice (2012) EWHC 2381, Admin, (2012) Med LR 544, paras 75–86.
4.
Lord Browne-Wilkinson in Airedale NHS Trust v Bland (1993) AC 789.
5.
R v Inglis (2010) EWCA Crim 2637, paras 37–54.
6.
R v Cox (1993) 33 MSL 89, 18 September 1992. Samuels A. The patient is in a very poor state: Is it lawful to refuse treatment or to discontinue treatment? Med Sci Law 1994; 34: 227–232.
7.
R (Purdy) v DPP (2009) UKHL 45, (2010) 1 AC 345.
8.
R(B) v DPP (2009) EWHC 106, Admin, (2009) 1 WLR 2072, (2009) 1 Cr App R 38 – irrational discontinuance of prosecution by the prosecutor.
9.
See DawRSolomonA. Assisted suicide and identifying the public interest in the decision to prosecute. Crim Law Rev2010, pp. 737–751.
10.
RogersJ. Prosecutorial policies, prosecutorial systems, and the purdy litigation. Crim Law Rev2010, pp. 543–564. especially 550–553).
11.
R (Pretty) v DPP (2001) UKHL 61, (2002) 1 AC 800, paras 39, 65 and 117, and (2002) 35 EHRR 1, ECHR.
12.
Z (Local Authority: Duty) (2004) EWHC 2817.
13.
R (Nicklinson) v Ministry of Justice (2012) EWHC 2381, Admin.
14.
Haas v Switzerland (2011) 53 EHRR 33.
15.
B v Croydon HA (1998) Fam 133.
16.
F (Mental Patient: Sterilisation) (1990) 2 AC 1, Mental Capacity Act 2005.
17.
DH NHS Foundation Trust v PS (2010) EWHC 1217 (Fam), (2010) 2 FLR 1236.
18.
NHS Trust v Baby X (2012) EWHC 2188 (Fam).
19.
Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust v James (2013) EWCA Civ 65, especially paras 33–50. See also: Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust v Wyatt (2005) EWCA Civ 1181, (2005) 1 WLR 3995. Smith Buckinghamshire NHS Trust v R (A Patient) (1996) 7 Med LR 401. Foster C and Hope T. What sort of DNAR order is that? J R Soc Med 2012; 105: 279–282.
20.
NHS Trust A v H (2001) 2 FLR 501.
21.
Airedale NHS Trust v Bland (1993) AC 789, the Bland case, a Hillsborough casualty.
22.
For further guidance on the relevant factors to be considered, see R (Burke) v General Medical Council (2004) EWHC 1879 (Admin), (2005) QB 424. Bland was followed in Scotland Law Hospital NHS Trust v Lord Advocate 1996 SC 301.
23.
NHS Trust A v M (2001) Fam 348.
24.
W v M, S and a NHS Primary Care Trust (2011) EWHC 2443 (Fam).
25.
Easing the passing, the trial of Dr John Bodkin Adams, Patrick Devlin, Faber and Faber, 1986, pp 171–182, especially pp. 171–172. Palmer H. Dr Adams’ trial for murder. Crim Law Rev 1957; 365.
26.
A (Children) (Conjoined Twins: Medical Treatment) (2000) EWCA Civ 254, (2001) Fam 147, CA.
27.
AK (Adult Patient) (Medical Treatment: Consent) (2001) FLR 129 – motor neurone disease.
28.
R (Burke) v GMC (2004) EWHC 1879 (Admin), (2005) QB 425, paras 180–194.
