title: Withdrawing and withholding  life-sustaining treatment.
abstract: There has been considerable criticism recently over the use of end-of-life pathways and do-not-resuscitate orders with vulnerable, incapable patients, often without discussion. This criticism has led to press and judicial scrutiny of the lawfulness of decisions to withdraw or withhold life-sustaining treatment. In this article, the author reviews the law and argues that flawed decision-making by doctors and nurses, rather than the actual end-of-life pathway or do-not-resuscitate order, is where the lawfulness of withdrawing and withholding treatment must be challenged.
authors.affiliation: College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University, UK.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Griffith
mesh_terms: D005066:Euthanasia, Passive; D006801:Humans; D016414:Resuscitation Orders; D013727:Terminal Care; D006113:United Kingdom; D028761:Withholding Treatment / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*