Matters of life and death

Doctors face particular challenges when seeking to provide end of life care, which can involve facing clinically and emotionally complex decisions. Recent draft guidance published by the General Medical Council (GMC) seeks to assist doctors in how to approach “end of life” issues, including the withholding or withdrawal of treatment from terminally ill patients, such as turning off life support systems or ceasing resuscitation attempts. A consultation concerning the guidance concluded on 13 July 2009, with finalised guidance currently anticipated to be made available by spring 2010. The draft guidance follows the introduction of the Department of Health End of Life Care Strategy last year, which emphasised the opportunity for patients to discuss their personal needs and preferences with healthcare professionals to allow them to be recorded in their care plan and priority to be afforded to treating patients with dignity and respect both before and after death. 

What does the guidance cover? 

The guidance will apply to all 150,000 practising doctors in Britain and will cover patients suffering from any lifethreatening condition or permanent disability, including heart failure, brain damage and cancer. It also covers end of life care for children and premature babies. The guidance avoids any reference to assisted suicide, or active measures to help a patient to die, which remains illegal, despite recent calls for a change in the law.