Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust v JF & Anor [2018] EWCOP 32

​The court had to decide on end of life treatment for the P who had terminal cancer and was unconscious after suffering a cardiac arrest.

The result now was that the P remained in a position where there was no anticipation of any significant improvement in her neurological condition, certainly within the life expectancy of her cancer which was some six to eight months. The P had had a tracheostomy tube fitted: the Trust wanted the tube to be removed as they saw no benefit in the continuation of the treatment; the P's family wanted it to be kept in place. The family also wanted antibiotics to be administered if the P developed an infection but they were against morphine being administered as they believed morphine had played some part in the demise of two of their relatives.

The court ruled that the tube should remain in place, that antibiotics should not be given if the P developed an infection (so she could die a natural death according to her wishes) and that morphine should not be administered.

Read the full text of the judgment on Bailii