Guidelines are set for persistent vegetative state

Abstract

The official solicitor, Peter Harris, has issued guidance for health authorities and NHS trusts in Britain, reminding them to seek the High Court's approval before withdrawing artificial feeding and hydration from patients in a persistent vegetative state. His practice note, issued last week, follows the second case in which the court has sanctioned the withdrawal of feeding for patients in the persistent vegetative state. The celebrated case of Tony Bland, the survivor of the Hillsborough football stadium disaster, went to the House of Lords last year and established that such patients need not be kept alive indefinitely. In …