Man wins battle to keep receiving life support: Doctors must always give patients best possible care

BMJ 2004; 329 doi: 10.1136/bmj.329.7464.515-a (Published 26 August 2004)
Cite this as: BMJ 2004;329:515.2

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  1. Rosemarie Anthony-Pillai, specialist registrar in palliative medicine (roseap@doctors.org.uk)
  1. Sue Ryder Care—St John's Hospice, Moggerhanger, Bedfordshire MK44 3RJ

    EDITOR—Some will be appalled at the recent ruling in the case of Leslie Burke against the General Medical Council1 and see it as opening the floodgates to patients demanding all sorts of treatments that theoretically prolong life but are expensive and possibly dangerous, as well as undermining the specialist role of medical professionals in making expert decisions.

    The emotive nature of feeding and …

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