Pathway to euthanasia?

A number of medical cases recently have been given publicity and caused concern. These have resulted from the application of the "Liverpool Care Pathway".

Medicine is an inexact science, and nowhere is this more true than in the case of diagnosing the imminence of death. The concern relates to cases were patients were designated as dying, so drugs, feeding and liquids were withheld. Subsequently there were indications that the condition was not incurable, and even one or two that the patient revived and lived for some months afterwards when treatment was belatedly restored.

It is understandable that invasive and hopeless treatment is not generally desirable, especially for the very old and very ill. In fact, some people stipulate that they do not wish this treatment if they become too ill to make the decision for themselves.

At the moment medical staff seem to be applying the pathway somewhat rigidly, without a full diagnosis and even without consulting relatives.

If the patient is not able to make a case himself, then doctors must beware of playing God. Above all, even if the patient is dying and medical treatment is to be denied, the giving of liquids could at least ease discomfort even if it prolongs a pain-filled death.

There must be some kind of safeguard built into the process, some added protection to prevent mistakes producing early death. Otherwise we are on the pathway to euthanasia.