title: Lawfully withdrawing life-sustaining treatment.
abstract: The UK Supreme Court recently delivered its first judgement based on the application of the 2005 Mental Capacity Act. The plurality judgement given by Lady Hale clarified the law on medical futility and the circumstances under which a district nurse is lawfully able to withdraw life-sustaining treatment. It is essential that district nurses know when care and treatment becomes futile to ensure they are acting lawfully if a decision is taken to withdraw that care and treatment. This article considers the impact of the Supreme Court ruling on district nurse practice.
authors: Lecturer in Health Law, School of Health Science, Swansea University.
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Griffith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003152:Community Health Nursing; D003657:Decision Making; D006806:Human Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D008020:Life Support Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D018447:Medical Futility / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006113:United Kingdom; D028761:Withholding Treatment / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*