Letters
Law Commission's report makes no provision for dissenting doctors
BMJ 1995; 310 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.310.6994.1604d (Published 17 June 1995) Cite this as: BMJ 1995;310:1604- A P Cole
- Consultant paediatrician Worcester Royal Infirmary NHS Trust, Ronkswood Branch, Worcester WR5 1HN
EDITOR,—There is more to some advance directives than the extension of autonomy by a once competent patient. That of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society, for example, requires that insulin is withheld when required from a signatory who develops presenile dementia. If that advance directive were legally enforceable the doctor would have to give way to a patient's wish to have death brought forward by unreasonable measures.
Len Doyal1 does not mention a serious deficiency …
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