Sanctity of life law

A step too far

BMJ 2012; 345 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e5298 (Published 6 August 2012)
Cite this as: BMJ 2012;345:e5298

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  1. Robert G Twycross, emeritus clinical reader in palliative medicine1
  1. 1Oxford University, Oxford OX3 8HF, UK
  1. robtwy{at}yahoo.com

I agree that the sanctity of life law has gone too far.1 Unless this judgment is modified, it could “gradually and detrimentally distort healthcare provision, healthcare values, and common sense.”1 Why? Because although the judgment was specific to patients in a minimally conscious state, logically all decisions about withholding or withdrawing clinically …

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