Care of critically ill newborns: please do this short General Medical Council survey

[GeraldineMumsnet]

We've been asked by the GMC to find out your views on a particularly sensitive topic: who should have ultimate responsibility when it comes to critically ill newborn babies on life-support machines.

The GMC is currently drafting guidelines so doctors know how to act in this and similar situations that arise when a patient is dying and the results will be used to inform their debate.

The survey is open to all parents in the UK.

Thanks
MNHQ

Well, they can't take away legal rights but presumably they wish to test public opinion in order to make a case.

So what you are saying is that the parents/Doctors should in most cases be able to make a collective and agreeable choice. No need for the courts to be involved in most cases.

BUT

If you take away the power for the courts to ever make a decision in these cases then the parents would never have the option to "appeal" against the doctors decision - for example.

I agree that the courts should make the final decision in these cases. Not in every single case, but on occasions where the parents and the medical team arent able to agree between them the best way forward, then IMO the courts should act as the final arbiter.

Mrs Pickles - you have said 'because how can the GMC give guidance to take away the power to apply to court e.g. for the parents to injunct the hospital from taking an invasive course of action, or to keep the life support switched on. You can't take away that legal right by guidance'.

I don't think the GMC are trying to do that. They are writing guidance for doctors about what they should do/need to do in situations like this. They are seeking opinions from many interested parties to see what the popular opinion is across the board. And the GMC can't arbitrarily change legislation - eveything would have to be OK'd by the Government first - all the GMC could do would be to submit a paper/proposal and have it discussed and debated fully (AFAIK)

Done
x

I'm interested to see the support for the courts role. Personally I answered with parents as my choice. Everybody else has to live with what happens but the parents are living it and they should surely be given the right to have their view respected if the child themselves is unable to make their view known?

I agree with Mrs Pickles, court as final arbiter where needed. The key principle has to be (in the Children's Act perhaps?) that an independent and neutral body needs to establish the rights and interests of the child, and these can't always be assumed to be the same as those of the parents. Or the medics.