NEWS > HEALTH > U.K. HEALTH CARE SYSTEM KILLING IRRITATING PATIENTS

U.K. HEALTH CARE SYSTEM KILLING IRRITATING PATIENTS

September 26 2009

London, U.K. – There are few countries that have the same kind debate over health like what is seen in the United States. One of the few modernized countries without some kind of comprehensive medical coverage for all citizens the debate over health
care has been seen from the outside as an almost ridiculous argument, however affecting and powerful it is inside the country itself. With other countries such as Canada, France, and the United Kingdom being held up as the gold standard for health care the confusion in those countries is even more profound.

Now though a new development in one of those advanced health care systems is shining a new light on the debate both inside and outside the country in question, The United Kingdom. That new development has come on the form of a letter to one of the country’s leading newspapers stating expert opinions that many patients are being weaned off treatment that could potentially save their lives and thus being allowed to die. Though no clear evidence or specific cases have been presented the warning comes at a time when the U.K. system is under great scrutiny. It’s also not clear if those being allowed to die are pleasant patients or the kind most nurses and doctors would rather do without.

“Under NHS guidance introduced across England to help doctors and medical staff deal with dying patients, they can then have fluid and drugs withdrawn and many are put on continuous sedation until they pass away,” read the letter in part. “But this approach can also mask the signs that their condition is improving, the experts warn. As a result the scheme is causing a ‘national crisis’ in patient care. Forecasting death is an inexact science. Patients are being diagnosed as being close to death “without regard to the fact that the diagnosis could be wrong.”

The program was designed to reduce the suffering of patients who are living through their last few hours and as yet has not been officially sanctioned for patients who yell, refuse to take medications, or make lewd comments towards female attendants.

“Life and death are still, despite all of our advances, still an inexact science. Consequently health care can be compromised by those variables and people can
suffer unnecessarily. Whether or not that happens under the British NHS system exclusively or not is something that will gave to be investigated but I suspect that similar cases will occur throughout the world no matter the type of health care system they have in place,” said Scrape TV Health analyst Rebecca Phelps. “The real problem with adopting a system that allows for the withdrawal of medical treatment is the potential for abuse. That is the heart of the debate revolving around the right to die. If a person is deemed to be close to death is simply that their body and organs are giving out or is it that they deliberately soiled their bed or were just generally obstinate? Those are questions worth asking.”

The Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying Patient was designed for use in palliative care situations where the patients have previously been deemed as terminal with no chance of recovery. Special assigned attendants are assigned to such wards and hospitals, though very few undergo patience training.

“Dealing with the sick and dying day after day takes a very special kind of person but even those people have their limits and it’s entirely possible that some people have been taking advantage of their situation and this program to eliminate an undesirable or two,” continued Phelps. “Keep in mind though these are terminal patients who have no chance of recovery. If they go a few days early, well that might be a blessing in disguise. Odds are if they are annoying in death then they will have been just as irritating in life and I’m sure the families will be okay with them going a little earlier than expected.”

Officially a doctor is the only person able to determine when such techniques are to be used. Just as with nurses, Doctors are not required to undergo patience training.    

Lauren Hebert, Health Correspondent

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