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Woman with living will allowed to die in the U.K.


Posted on Sep 30, 2009

A woman in the U.K. has effectively committed suicide via a living will.  The woman, Kerrie Wooltorton, 26, drank poison at her home and then called an ambulance.  She was conscious when she arrived at the hospital and handed doctors a letter stating that she only wanted to be made comfortable and did not want any life-saving measures.

 

According to doctors her wishes were very clear, and they were reluctant to intervene lest they be charged with assault.  As far as they knew Ms. Wooltorton was mentally competent and able to refuse treatment.

 

Living wills allow people to decide what type of treatment they do or do not want to be subject to if they are unable to speak for themselves.  They can require that all measures be taken to preserve life, or they can ask that no extraordinary measures be taken.

 

Living wills are typically used by terminally ill patients who wish to avoid painful end-of-life treatment when there is little chance of survival.  This case is thought to be the first ever where a person effectively committed suicide by using a living will to prevent doctors from providing care.

 

Wooltorton’s family have stated that the doctors who allowed her to die should have tried to save her.  The case is expected to ignite a debate over the use of living wills in the U.K. and elsewhere.

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