Withdrawal
of Life Support Treatment
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1. The Welfare of the Child and best interests of the Child are Paramount
Interpreted with respect to what a reasonable adult would choose for themselves.
2. The Role of the Parent; its Scope and Limitations
The Guardianship Act: parent's ability to consent to treatment of a child.
(a) Parents cannot choose against the best interests of the child where these are clear e.g. refusal of blood transfusion by Jehovah Witness parents.
(b) Discretionary role where parents are competent and the best interests of the child are in doubt.
(c) Parents cannot insist on treatment that is not in the child's best interests
(i) Futile treatment: where it would not produce an outcome beneficial to the child.
(ii) Treatment contrary to the child's best interests e.g. epidermolysis bullosa (Lethalis).
3. The Role of Medical Practitioners
Whether providing for or withholding treatment is in child's "best interests: physicians have a responsibility to prevent undue suffering including that from inhumane treatments and in the case of a dying child, allow "death with dignity" .
(a) There is no legal duty to provide futile treatment.
(b) Courts will not order treatment against clinical judgement if there is medical diagnostic and prognostic certainty.
(c) Courts will not lightly overrule parents.
(d) Family, clinical and ethical consensus is desirable.
(e) Clinicians/parental disagreement equals "alarm". In these cases, review legal issues by legal advisers and ethical issues by the Hospital Ethics Committee is recommended. It may be appropriate to obtain a Court Order approving the decision to withdraw.
These guidelines were initially developed by Dr Andrew Howie, Ms Jane Bowden, and Associate Professor Tania Gunn - September 1997