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Is the Liverpool Plan just another name for euthanasia

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etheltbags1 Sat 14-Mar-15 09:26:31

My friend called the other day full of tears, her aunt aged 86 is in a care home with days to live. She has been discharged from hospital and back in her old room where she was happy and can see her old friends.
They have put her on the Liverpool plan which means they are removing her medication apart from painkillers, removing nourishment (her condition means she cant swallow solids) and are literally starving her to death albeit in a nice way. I understood that this plan was now banned and was originally for people who are beyond understanding, ie in a coma that they are not likely to recover from.
This lady is awake and chatting to my friend who is her next of kin and has not given permission for the Liverpool plan to be put in place.
It seems to me that its a form of euthanasia.
I would have thought that if the lady is dying but awake would it not be better to feed her liquids and drinks, perhaps cups of tea etc until nature takes its course. I don't have a lot of medical understanding about this but would welcome comments.

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Ana Mon 16-Mar-15 20:27:04

Is this newspaper report acceptable, Jane10? It's nearly a year old, but many of the points it addresses still apply.

www.theguardian.com/society/2014/may/15/end-of-life-care-uk-improvements-nhs-patients

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durhamjen Mon 16-Mar-15 20:34:46

This is today's news. Cancer and end-of-life care in Stafford being privatised.

https://opendemocracy.net/ournhs/caroline-molloy/leak-reveals-worrying-truth-behind-biggest-nhs-privatisation-yet

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rosequartz Tue 17-Mar-15 10:53:01

Thank goodness - something needed to change in that hospital.

End of life care there = neglect and cruelty under the last government.

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etheltbags1 Wed 18-Mar-15 18:59:04

iam64, I have not been online for a couple of days so have just read your post regarding my supposed 'winding up' of readers of this subject.
NO, I am not winding anyone up, I find your remarks offensive and away from the subject. I stand by my original posts on this subject and I cannot see why anyone need be on any 'plan'. Many older people have really serious illnesses and recover completely. How can any medical staff know how long anyone has to live. My relative was given 1 month with his cancer, he lived for another 32 years.
Why cant sick and/or elderly just be looked after with care and compassion like anyone else. Why should they be different, a cup of tea and a biscuit is no different given to a dying person than to another who is seriously ill. Also someone who is ill and not expected to die could die from an unexpected cause such as a heart attack.
I really don't understand all the fuss. My friend had just e mailed me to say her aunt died yesterday btw.

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harrigran Wed 18-Mar-15 19:10:45

There was a case in a newspaper yesterday, a man was asked to give permission to turn off his wife's life support because she would not recover. The lady did recover and is enjoying her life. I think the bottom line is nobody really knows so yes I agree *etheltbags.

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rosequartz Wed 18-Mar-15 19:32:04

I agree too, etheltbags as unfortunately the LCP is not always implemented to the letter or with compassion, and quite honestly no-one has the right to withdraw the basics of life from another human being. No-one can know how that sick person feels.
Protocols may be set up but are not always followed by all staff. Our family has had horrific experience of this.

It is euthanisia in all but name.

One day in the future people will in all probability look back on it with horror.

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FlicketyB Sun 22-Mar-15 17:32:03

etheltbags I am in absolute agreement with you.

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