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New NHS guidance instructs hospitals not to deny water to the dying

New guidance say doctors and nurses must provide water to the dying. The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has drafted new guidance demanding that patients have access to fluids. The Liverpool Care Pathway which was withdrawn last year saw elderly and other vulnerable patients denied  food and fluids, often without their knowledge or consent, or that of their relatives. However such practices may still be going on, albeit under different names. Roger Goss from Patient Concern commented saying: “It is shocking that this has to be spelled out to doctors and nurses”. [Telegraph, 29 July] Antonia Tully of the Patients First Network said: “We are still seeing a lack of confidence among relatives about the way in which vulnerable patients are cared for. We are continuing to advise family and friends to maintain constant vigilance to make sure that those they love receive basic care, including food and water.”

Other stories:

Abortion

• US Senate expected to vote on defunding Planned Parenthood [International Business Times, 28 July]

• Health secretary asked to take action following alleged closure of British abortion clinic [Telegraph, 27 July]

• Christian publisher wins fight against abortion pill mandate [Christian Institute, 24 July]

• US: Pharmacy owners cannot cite religion to deny contraceptives [Reuters, 24 July]

• India: Doctor booked for selling abortion pills illegally [Times of India, 24 July]

• China: Conflicting reports to change of one child policy [Telegraph, 23 July][

 Euthanasia

• Patients with depression, personality disorders most likely to make euthanasia requests ]Medical News Today, 28 July[

• Media personality calls for “euthanasia vans” ]Irish Examiner, 28 July[

• Netherlands: Sharp rise in euthanasia for psychiatric patients ]Dutch News, 24 July[

• France: Doctors halt killing of quadriplegic man ]Guardian, 23 July[

 Fertility

• Tens of thousands of under-age girls given long-acting contraceptives by NHS ]Telegraph, 26 July[

• Birth control pills linked with hair loss ]Daily Mail, 28 July[

Family issues

• Germany: Berlin conservatives vote against same-sex marriage ]The Local, 24 July[

• Children of same-sex couples oppose same-sex marriage ]John Smeaton, 23 July[

• New Women and Equalities Committee’s first inquiry is on transgender equality ]Telegraph, 27 July[

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