"MAKING DECISIONS" AND THE BLAND JUDGEMENT

Early day motion 958, tabled 28 October 1999 by Kerry Pollard (Labour). Signed by 7 members.

That this House notes the Government's persistent promises to oppose euthanasia and Ministers' repeated commitments not to introduce legislation to enshrine in statute law the Bland judgement; further notes that this defined assisted food and fluid as treatment which was withdrawn from Mr Tony Bland bringing about his death by dehydration and starvation; regrets that the White Paper on 'Making Decisions' now reverses this promise by putting forward the Bland judgement as a basis for medical practice; further notes that nothing in the paper would protect patients from doctors withdrawing life sustaining food and fluid or from proxy decision-makers refusing medical treatment, including assisted food and fluids, on behalf of the incapacitated; and calls on the Government to make good its promise to oppose euthanasia by the immediate introduction of a Bill to outlaw doctors bringing about death by deliberate omission or commission in patients who are not dying.

Signatures by party: Labour 3, Conservative 2, Labour/Co-operative 2.