Rejected petition Abolish law stating doctors MUST inform a patient they are going to die.

I want the Government or parliament to abolish a law that never had a public consultation debate in the first place.

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This law that even over-rides rights of a patients families wishes is not only cruel and uneccessary but undemocratic.

This petition was rejected

Why was this petition rejected?

It’s not clear what the petition is asking the UK Government or Parliament to do.

There is no legislation that specifically requires a doctor to inform a patient that they are dying.

There is legislation that provides for the involvement of patients in decisions relating to their care and treatment and the appropriate course of action when a patient does not have capacity to make such decisions. The relevant legislation can be viewed here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/41/section/13H

There is also guidance from the General Medical Council, which doctors are expected to follow alongside using their professional judgement. You can view this here: https://www.gmc-uk.org/ethical-guidance/ethical-guidance-for-doctors/decision-making-and-consent

Decisions about informing a patient that they are dying are taken on a case-by-case basis by individual clinicians.

We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.

Date submitted 12 February 2023
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