Another UK Inquest over Covert Unilateral Withdrawal of Life Support

The British coroners are conducting yet another inquest over yet another patient whose treatment was

withdrawn without either family consent or knowledge.  This one concerns Robert Goold, who died at Cambridge's Addenbrooke Hospital last February.  



One physician testified:  “The team medical view was that it would not be appropriate for resuscitation if he had a cardiac arrest, that was clear to the family. He was unlikely to ever recover to the level of his previous functioning, he may have required full time nursing care for the rest of his natural life. It was my understanding from previous discussions that there was an expressed feeling he did not wish for that to occur.”



But Senior coroner David Morris asked:  “Some box was ticked for no food or drink, you didn’t sit down with the family and say right I have made the decision to go down this pathway?”  The physician responded: “not specifically no.”