§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many requests for withdrawal of food and fluid to patients in permanent vegetative state have been(a) made and (b) refused in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [152772]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonIn proceedings where a request has been made to withdraw artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) from a patient in a permanent vegetative state (PVS), the Official Solicitor acts as a Litigation Friend of the Patient.
The Official Solicitor has been involved in a total of 36 cases in the last 10 years, in which a declaration from the court has been obtained that it is lawful for ANH to be withdrawn from a patient in PVS. The breakdown according to the year is shown in the table.
Year Number of declarations 1993 1 1994 3 1995 4 1996 2 1997 3 1998 5 1999 1 2000 7 2001 3 2002 4 2003 3 There have not been any such cases which have reached the court for a decision and a declaration has not been granted.