Trust and health department deny acting illegally over “do not resuscitate” order

A man plans to sue England’s health secretary, Andrew Lansley, and a hospital trust for allegedly imposing a “do not attempt to resuscitate” order on his wife without her express consent.

David Tracey is taking legal action against Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for allegedly failing to carry out cardiopulmonary resuscitation on his wife, Janet. He claims that the trust and the Department of Health for England acted unlawfully by not having a standard policy on resuscitation decisions.

Mrs Tracey, who …