Airedale NHS Trust v Bland

(1993) 4 Med LR 39

HOUSE OF LORDS

Lord KEITH, Lord GOFF, Lord LOWRY, Lord BROWNE-WILKINSON, and Lord MUSTILL

Medical treatment — Withdrawal — Consent — Persistent vegetative state — Discontinuance of life-supporting medical treatment — Whether lawful for doctors to withdraw life-supporting medical treatment, including artificial feeding, to patient who had no prospect of recovery or improvement — Whether application should be made to court for declaration as to legality where patient had not given valid consent