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UK Court Orders Sleeping Pill Treatment for Brain-Damaged Patient

Family opposes experimental treatment; prefers to “let” her die from feeding tube removal

By Gudrun Schultz

LONDON, United Kingdom, November 21, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The U.K. High Court has ruled against a family’s attempt to cause the death of a 53-year-old patient with severe brain injuries by removing the woman’s feeding tube. Instead, the court said doctors should attempt to wake the patient using an experimental new treatment--a sleeping pill, BBC News reported.

Patients suffering from severe brain injury that has left them in a non-waking state (sometimes referred to as a ‘persistent vegetative state’) have shown remarkable improvement, in some cases, when given a simple sleeping pill.

Researchers in South Africa found that giving patients the insomnia drug Zolpidem caused some patients to wake up under the drug’s influence. Patients recognized family members, remembered their own identity, and carried on lucid conversations until the effects of the medication wore off. Researchers are not sure why the sleeping pill has the effect it does.

Sir Mark Potter, head of the High Court’s family division, accepted the proposal by Laurence Oates, outgoing Official Solicitor, to prescribe the sleeping pill Zolpidem to the patient, the Guardian reported. The woman, who has not been named, suffered a brain hemorrhage in August 2003 while on holiday.

The patient’s family has objected to the test, according to the BBC, saying they would prefer to “let” her die as she may be left seriously disabled. They have reportedly requested that her feeding tube be removed, which would lead to her death by dehydration and starvation.

A spokesman for the Department for Constitutional Affairs said the situation was “very difficult.”

“The Official Solicitor, who represents the woman, came to a view that was opposite to the family. He accepts that there are incredibly sensitive issues that need to be addressed with this family and the woman. But he also takes the view that there are other issues for other patients in this situation.

“He believes that no stone should be left unturned in trying to save life.”

Alex Schadenberg, executive director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, told LifeSiteNews.com the court decision to try Zolpidem was a positive development in the ongoing battle to protect the life of severely disabled patients, but warned that withdrawing food and water should not be permitted whether or not the woman wakes up.

"We shouldn’t be removing the feeding tube from anyone who is not otherwise dying," Mr. Schadenberg said. "If they’re not otherwise dying, it would be morally wrong to remove the feeding tube. We’re not talking extraordinary treatment here. We’re talking basic care."

Timothy James, medical law expert at the University of Central England told the BBC that a previous case had established a legal precedent for the family’s request--in 1993, parents of a young man with severe brain injuries were permitted by the House of Lords to stop feeding their son, causing his death.

James said the possibility that doctors could awaken the woman, however, opened the door to informed consent on the part of patients in similar cases.

“[Removal of the feeding tube] becomes their own decision.”

Mr. Schadenberg, however, said that asking the woman if she wanted the feeding tube removed would be the same as offering her assisted suicide, which is illegal in the United Kingdom. "The goal of this is not 'how can we "help" this person to die.' The goal should be 'how can we help this person recover.'"

Doctors have been given a three-day period to attempt treatment of the woman, beginning at an undisclosed date. They have been told the treatment attempt must stop if the woman experiences suffering.

See related LifeSiteNews coverage:

Groundbreaking Study Finds Drug Arouses People from a Permanent Vegetative State
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/may/06052401.html

“Vegetative” Patient Shows Conscious Awareness
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/sep/06090804.html

Coma Recovery After 19 Years Poses Questions About Terri Schiavo
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/jul/06070409.html

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