ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses how incompetent patient take decision on their own interest where end of life issues are concerned. A distinction is now made between patients in a persistent vegetative state, and those in a minimally conscious state. A patient with minimally conscious state (MCS) is defined as having severely altered consciousness in which minimal but definite behaviour evidence of self or environmental awareness is demonstrated. This chapter presents a human rights act 1998 to enforce the patients right to die. It ensures people to understand the judgment of Airedale NHS Trust v Bland and its subsequent application. The chapter also ensures people to understand the issues relating to withholding or withdrawing treatment from a patient in a persistent vegetative state. It appreciates the complexity of end of life issues.