THE IRKSOME MR BURKE

GMC challenges right to live court decision (The Telegraph, May 16th, 2005)

The General Medical Council (GMC) has begun an appeal over a High Court ruling which allows a terminally-ill patient to insist on being kept alive.

Leslie Burke, 44, who has a degenerative brain condition won the right to stop doctors withdrawing treatment last July.

Mr Burke, of Newton Estate, Lancaster, feared that his wish could be overridden under current GMC guidelines.

Mr Justice Munby said that although the bulk of the guidelines were in place to reassure patients and relatives, he took issue with them "in a limited number of respects" and ruled parts unlawful.

Doesn’t Mr. Burke understand that living wills are only valid if they provide for dying? More.