HC Deb 27 November 2000 vol 357 cc464-5W
Mr. Kidney

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he last met representatives of the British Medical Association to discuss its guidelines for the withholding and withdrawal of treatment; [134765]

(2) if he will urge the British Medical Association to make alterations to its guidelines on the withholding and withdrawal of treatment. [134766]

Yvette Cooper

Ministers have not met representatives of the British Medical Association to discuss their guidelines on withholding and withdrawing life-prolonging medical treatment nor are there plans to do so. The aims of the document are to identify the range of clinical, ethical and legal factors which need to be considered in making decisions on withdrawing and withholding medical treatment and on potential procedures, including consulting the healthcare team and seeking a second opinion where appropriate.

We have no plans to take any action on these guidelines nor urge the British Medical Association to amend them. A revised second edition was published in October 2000.

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