Trust wins ruling to withhold treatment

A HIGH Court judge has allowed Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust’s request to withhold life–saving treatment from a severely brain–damaged Muslim patient if his condition significantly deteriorates.

The family of the 55–year–old man, from Greater Manchester, who is in a “minimally conscious” state, argue that their religious faith requires everything to be done to prolong life “until God takes it away”.

Mr L’s wife and two of his adult sons say his condition is continuing to improve.

But Mr Justice Moylan, sitting at the Court of Protection in London, ruled that the balance was “firmly in favour” of a declaration that it would be lawful to withhold treatment.

The judge said it sounded “harsh” but treatment would “prolong Mr L’s death” and would not prolong his life “in any meaningful way.”

The judge said: “It would result in death being characterised by a series of harmful interventions without any realistic prospect of such treatment producing any benefit.”

He refused the family permission to appeal, but they can still ask the Court of Appeal itself to intervene.


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