A 46-year-old man suffering with Coronavirus has died after doctors refused him basic medical care because they believed he had a ‘poor quality of life.’ Michael Robinson, Director of Communications for SPUC described the case as: “a tragic example of modern medical ethics.”
The deceased man, Michael Hickson, was quadriplegic and admitted to St David’s Hospital in Austin Texas after he tested positive for Coronavirus.
Despite objections from his wife, the hospital refused to give Michael any food or water as doctors believed that he did not have a sufficient ‘quality of life’ to justify any treatment.
Doctors allegedly stated that saving Michael’s life was ‘futile.’
Michael passed away of pneumonia. It is understood that being deprived of any food and water weakened Michael’s ability to fight off the virus.
Mr Robinson said: “SPUC have grave concerns over reports of the recent death of Mr Hickson. The case is a tragic example of modern medical ethics. Patients are entitled to care, respect and basic human dignity.”
‘Slow motion euthanasia’ becoming commonplace
In the UK, the practice of euthanasia and assisted suicide is currently illegal.
Despite this, a disturbing spike in what is referred to as ‘slow motion euthanasia’ has been spotted in the UK.
‘Slow motion euthanasia’ involves withholding basic sustenance from patients such as food and water. Consequently, this denial of basic subsistence can compromise respiration and result in the patient dehydrating to death.
Last month in June 2020, SPUC reported on how a 34-year-old hospital patient in the UK died after doctors withheld food and water. The patient suffered from a treatable bowel condition which was not terminal when a High Court ruled that depriving him of food and water was ‘in his best interests.’
SPUC has stressed how the disturbing practice of depriving patients of basic sustenance, is a move towards normalizing euthanasia and assisted suicide in the United Kingdom.
SPUC’s Mr Robinson added: “In countries where euthanasia or assisted suicide have been legalised, we can see a cultural shift in which people start to accept death as a solution to the problems of sickness, disability and old age.”