Mental Capacity Act
This was passed by Parliament in 2005 and implemented in 2007. There remain concerns about the Act's effect on treatment for mentally incapacitated patients, particularly in relation to feeding and hydration.
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who cared for Kerrie? (nucleus - spring 2010)
Lizzie Groom considers the consquences of a hard case. - On 18 September 2007 Kerrie Wooltorton, a 26- year-old woman, was rushed into Norwich University Hospital A&E department having called an ambulance after drinking lethal antifreeze in an attempt to commit suicide. What happened next turned...
Fatal distraction (triple helix - winter 2009)
Unqualified patient autonomy harms the heart of medicine - At a resumed inquest in October, the Coroner ruled that doctors at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital had acted correctly in not giving any lifesaving treatment to 26 year old Kerrie Wooltorton when she was admitted in 2007 having...
Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice - A response from CMF to the Department for Constitutional Affairs - 2/6/2006
Introduction - The Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF) is an interdenominational organisation with more than 4,500 British doctors as members. All are Christians who desire their professional and personal lives to be governed by the Christian faith as revealed in the Bible. Members practise in all branches of the profession, and through the...Mental Capacity Bill passed -
The House of Commons passed the Mental Capacity Bill without further amendment on 5 April. The news was lost as headlines were dominated by the call of the election, the royal weeding and the death of Pope John Paul II. The bill received royal assent the same week. It is not yet certain when it will become law. In view of the shortage...
Terri Schiavo -
Terri Schiavo suffered brain damage at the age of 26 in 1990 when her heart stopped briefly because of a chemical imbalance. She died on Friday 31 March aged 41, 13 days after a feeding tube was removed at her husband's request following a Florida court ruling. Subsequent appeals, including intervention by the President himself, did not reverse...
"Schiavo case highlights dangers of UK Mental Capacity Bill" say CMF and LCF (23/3/2005)
In the light of the Terri Schiavo case, the Christian Medical Fellowship and Lawyers' Christian Fellowship today urged the House of Lords to accept an amendment to the Mental Capacity Bill tomorrow which would ensure that people granted power of attorney are not given authority to make life and death healthcare decisions on behalf of mentally...Read Full Release...
The euthanasia bandwagon - Propelled by medical fence-sitting and indifference (triple helix - winter 2005)
The Mental Capacity Bill ,[1] which gives full statutory force to advance refusals of food and fluids, passed its third reading in the House of Commons on 14 December 2004 by a majority of 354 to 118 amidst huge controversy about it bringing in ‘back-door euthanasia’.[2] The government employed a...
Loosley drafted Mental Capacity Bill provides inadequate protection for vulnerable patients, warn Christian doctors and lawyers (14/12/2004)
Government efforts to force Bill through could allow euthanasia in by the 'back door' The Mental Capacity Bill, which begins its report stage in the House of Commons today [14 December] is loosely drafted and in its present form leaves open a door whereby some mentally incapacitated patients could be starved, dehydrated and left to die, the...Read Full Release...
Mental Capacity Bill Briefing Paper -
The Mental Capacity Bill, which begins its report stage in the House of Commons today [14 December] contains much that is good and necessary both to support mentally incapacitated people in making decisions and to protect them from abuse and exploitation. - Parents and carers groups such as those represented by the Making...
The Mental Capacity Bill - Gateway to Euthanasia? (triple helix - autumn 2004)
Adrian Treloar on the strengths and weaknesses of the new bill - The draft Mental Capacity Bill[1] was published this summer following a decade of discussion and negotiation. One of the remarkable things about the bill is how long it has taken to come to parliament. This is largely due to the...