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Review of Withholding and Withdrawing Life-Prolonging Treatments: Good Practice in Decision Making gets underway

We are in the early stages of a review of our guidance on Withholding and Withdrawing Life Prolonging Treatments: Good Practice in Decision Making.  Since it was issued in August 2002, there have been a number of legal and other developments that need to be reflected in the advice we give. 

A working group has been formed to review the current guidance and produce a revised draft for consideration by the GMC’s Standards and Ethics Committee. The Group is chaired by Lady Christine Eames. It includes other membership from outside the GMC who together bring a variety of clinical and patient perspectives to the work; provide expertise on the ethical and legal considerations; and have good knowledge of the practical issues in delivering end of life care in different healthcare settings, across the UK.

We anticipate new draft guidance will be issued for formal consultation towards the end of 2008.

If you would like to be sent information about the consultation nearer the time, or would like to know more about the background to the review, please email standards@gmc-uk.org.