HL Deb 29 June 2004 vol 663 c19WA
Lord Alton of Liverpool

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 29 April (WA 92), in what circumstances the provision of nutrition and hydration by artificial means would not be in a patient's best interests. [HL3398]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner):

Decisions about whether or not a treatment is in the best interests of a patient who is incapacitated will depend on the specific circumstances of that person. It is a matter of clinical judgment involving assessing the person's prospects of recovery, the pain they are suffering and any burdens associated with available treatments, and discussions with those close to the patient.