Printed from: https://archive.cmf.org.uk/advocacy/submissions/?id=240
Published: 23rd December 2020
The decision-making process for initiating and withdrawing clinically assisted nutrition and hydration (CANH) treatment in patients who lack capacity to give consent has changed dramatically over the last 30 years in England and Wales. The legal framework now emphasises that the principal requirement is to determine if it is in the best interests of the patient for treatment to be given, and the illegal nature of continuing or starting treatment if this is not the case.
'Best interests' decisions about CANH should now be made with reference to the patient's previously expressed wishes, beliefs and values with an emphasis on whether the best-case scenario for prognosis would lead to a quality of life the patient would regard as worthwhile.
You can read the full CMF submission here
Steven Fouch (CMF Head of Communications) 020 7234 9668
Alistair Thompson on 07970 162 225
Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF) was founded in 1949 and is an interdenominational organisation with over 5,000 doctors, 900medical and nursing students and 300 nurses and midwives as members in all branches of medicine, nursing and midwifery. A registered charity, it is linked to over 100 similar bodies in other countries throughout the world.
CMF exists to unite Christian healthcare professionals to pursue the highest ethical standards in Christian and professional life and to increase faith in Christ and acceptance of his ethical teaching.
