Right to life/Right to death
The human rights department represents individuals and their families who wish to have
medical treatment withdrawn at the end of their lives, or who are
challenging decisions to withdraw medical treatmentNews
Lawyers for a British man in his forties who has locked-in syndrome and wants to end his own life have expressed relief that they can continue to act on his behalf.
The General Medical Council has updated its end of life guidance
Frances Swaine, partner in the Human Rights department, was recently instructed to represent parents who sought to refuse serious and invasive medical treatment for their seven month old daughter (“A”) in the face of opposition from the doctors of a Hospital Trust.
The General Medical Council has won its appeal against a decision that gave Leslie Burke, a seriously-ill man, the right to stop doctors withdrawing food and drink. Patient Concern were represented in the case by Leigh Day Human Rights lawyer, Richard Stein.
The parents of premature baby Charlotte Wyatt have lost their legal challenge to force doctors to ventilate their daughter if she needs it. The family are represented by leading Human Rights solicitor, Richard Stein.
A landmark ruling at the European Court of Human Rights means that doctors cannot override the wishes of parents, about the medical treatment of their children, without going to court. Richard Stein, Partner at Leigh Day & Co. represented the family involved.