Common sense prevails at the GMC

Dr Micheal Munro has been cleared of misconduct. Dr Munro admitted hastening the deaths of two dying babies by injecting them with a paralysing drug during their final moments of life. Dr Michael Munro found himself in a difficult situation when two terminally ill babies in his care were showing signs of pain and suffering. The GMC accepted that, in administering a drug to ease their pain, his intention was not to hasten death. Yesterday, the British Medical Association (BMA) said the GMC had followed what is already set out in law, which allows for a double effect of alleviating suffering but with the consequence of bringing forward death. I think the doctrine of double effect is nothing but a falsehood and perhaps its time that the Law Commission look at the issues surrounding this case, as the law clearly does need reform.

The sad facts of this case can be found here

If it was my child who was dying and suffering violent agonal gasping then I would ask the doctor who was caring for her, to send her on her way quickly.

In respect of end of life issues I think as a country we treat our animals better than our fellow man, this needs to change. I think what needs to be done in relation to this is take ethics and religion out of the equation and let the people on the ground make the decisions in consultation with the relatives of the patient, we are a supposed civilised society but yet we dont allow our sick to die with dignity. I have seen this first hand with my father who lay in a diabetic coma for six months and then had his feeding withdrawn and as a result starved to death over a prolonged period of time.