August 29, 2004

National Death Service

Whatever you do, don't get sick in Portsmouth.

In not the first case of it's kind at St Mary's Hospital, doctors are trying to end the life of a child against the wishes of the parents. They are refusing to put Darren and Debbie Wyatt's 10-month-old daughter on a ventilator if she stops breathing. Just to be safe, because of the pesky European Court of Human Rights, the hospital is going to the trouble of getting a court order allowing medical staff to withhold treatment.

They wouldn't have to go to all this trouble if they had been allowed to kill David Glass six years ago. That's when they wanted to do a Harold Shipman and overdose him with diamorphine. They decided he was dying of lung disease and it would be in his best interests. His mother pulled out the drip and David Glass is still alive.

It wasn't until March of this year that the ECHR ruled that the doctors in the Glass case should have sought an order from the High Court before withholding treatment against the wishes of Mrs Glass. This new little hurdle shouldn't keep them from killing off little Charlotte Wyatt. There is an obligation to take into account (whatever that vague phrase means) the parents’ wishes, but the courts have yet to overrule medical advice.

If a doctor wants you dead, it's just a matter of time.

Posted by david at August 29, 2004 02:42 AM | TrackBack
Comments

WHAT?!?

I thought it was the other way around: doctors refusing to withhold treatment when family wants to pull the plug.

This is crazy!

Posted by: Katherine at August 29, 2004 02:59 AM

Welcome to that wacky world that is the United Kingdom!

Posted by: Dave at August 29, 2004 03:47 AM

In UK, if a doctor decided that xyz medical intervention is "best" for your child, it is virtually impossible to stop them, even if you disagree.

However, if you ask for continued medical treatment for your child and they feel your child isn`t worth it, they can refuse and there isn`t a huge amount you can do.

My heart goes out to the parents of this little girl. I saw her photo in the paper yesterday, and she had a bright and alert look in her eyes.
If she develops further breathing problems, surely she deserves a chance.


No wonder we have the abortion stats in UK that we do. Doctors, who are supposed to protect life, are cavalier about terminating it.
We have GPs who rabbit on about being vegetarian and don`t believe in killing animals, yet they are happy to refer women to hospital doctors who will kill their babies.......
At least in my region we have one decent OB who refuses to do abortions.

Posted by: Elizabeth at August 29, 2004 08:55 AM

Baby Charlotte is a most courageous baby who has every right to be supported in her will to live. Her parents need complete support to enable them to continue doing the wonderfully amazing job they are doing to love, nurture and care for Charlotte. My heart is with Charlotte and her family. Blessings and prayers to you little angel.

Posted by: Cheryl at September 2, 2004 03:18 AM

I was deeply moved by Charlotte's picture in the paper. She really looked like she wants to be here in the world in spite of her difficulties. She should be given every chance. I am full of admiration for her parents who are fighting so hard for her.

Posted by: Adriana at September 12, 2004 08:31 PM