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Currently, in England and Wales, Court of Protection's Practice Directive 9E (PD9E) requires all cases of proposed withdrawal or withholding of life-sustaining treatment in relation to adults in a permanent vegetative state (PVS) or minimally conscious state be referred to the Court. This paper looks at the origins of PD9E and contrasts the routine requirement to refer cases to court with the complex clinical terrain that comprises those suffering from prolonged disorders of consciousness. We look at the role of the court in decision making in these contexts and we ask what role the courts are called on to play in these decisions. We argue that PD9E, as currently drafted, is too imprecise to achieve its purpose. With our focus always on the best interests of patients, we argue that most decisions of this nature should be made according to a strict protocol but without the need for court approval. Court overview should be reserved for cases of disagreement between those involved in the decision that cannot be resolved by other methods, where there are serious doubts about the individual's best interests or where there are legally untested aspects to the decision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers news briefs related to medical ethics as of 2015. The High Court of Justice of Northern Ireland (NI) has ruled that abortion legislation breaches the European Convention on Human Rights' Article 8. The British High Court has made a judgment in a case involving refusal for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by a patient. The Supreme Court of Canada has cancelled the nation's prohibition on assisted suicide in Carter v. Canada.

The article offers medical news briefs as of September 2015. Topics discussed include confirmation from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) regarding deprived of liberty; ECHR's declaration on two applications on the British law related to assisting dying to be inadmissible; and approval on guidance released by the British General Medical Council to doctors relating to assisted suicide by the High Court's rule.

Questions whether the concept of genetic privacy is a contradiction in terms. How such concept impact on how society comes to perceive privacy and responsibility; Value given by the society to self-determination and the rights of individuals; Discussion on the concept of rights and responsibilities.

The article offers world news briefs related to medical ethics. Fresenius Kabi AG, a drug manufacturer, barred the sale of the anaesthetic, propofol for use in lethal injections. The High Court in England and Wales rejected the legal claims for assisted dying of two men suffering from locked-in syndrome. The German government announced that it supported legislation which would legalize non-therapeutic male circumcision.

The article offers news briefs related to medical ethics. In Victoria, Australia, the Law Reform Committee has recommended that all donor-conceived individuals should be able to receive identifying information about donors. The High Court in England has ruled that Tony Nicklinson would be allowed to proceed with his challenge to the law of murder and assisted suicide. In England, an adult can be assessed as lacking capacity to make medical decision on the basis of certain diagnostic criteria.

The article offers news briefs related to medicine. It offers information on the multi-agency guidance published by the government of Great Britain to tackle female genital mutilation (FGM). It presents information on the statutory code of practice passed the Information Commissioner, of Great Britain on data sharing. Information on the referendum related to the proposal of banning assisted suicide and suicide tourism, held in Zurich, Switzerland is presented.

The article offers various developments taking place in the field of medicine in Great Britain. It is reported that, a woman from the Republic of Ireland has won a court case at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) against the restrictive abortion legislation of Ireland, to go for abortion. The government of Great Britain, as reported, had issued a white paper in July 2010 indicating that it will bring a value-based pricing policy for medicines by the year 2014.

The article discusses topics on medical ethics in Great Britain. Topics discussed include project of the British Medical Association (BMA) exploring attitudes and perceptions around end-of-life care and physician-assisted dying, hearing of the Scottish Court of Session in case of Scottish man Gordon Ross related to assisted suicide and the Access to Medical Treatments (Innovation) Act 2016 that authorize for database for innovative treatments.

The article examines the condition of refugees who fled the strife-torn states of the Middle East and Africa. Topics discussed include the total number of migrants drowned in the Mediterranean in 2016, origin of the crisis and factors that make the crisis particularly intractable, and the health effects of forced migration. It also mentioned the morality of migration policy and duties of the European Union states to migrant people.

The article discussed various ethics and radical approach related to medical treatment. It states that Northern Ireland is focused to transform the statutory approach to adults with mental disorders, as the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Northern Ireland) (DHSSPS) issued a consultation on a proposed draft mental capacity bill for Northern Ireland in May 2014. Information on legal provisions for the care and treatment of mental illness is also offered.

The article offers news briefs related to medical ethics in Great Britain as of November 2013. The British government has announced that it will remove the ban on the selling of self-testing kits for HIV diagnosis. The Liverpool care pathway (LCP), an end-of-life care pathway, has been phased out from Great Britain. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) and the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) will not be merged by the British government.

The article presents an update on medical ethics as of December 2007. The response of the British government to a report prepared by the Joint House of Lords, House of Commons Scrutiny Committee on the Human Tissue and Embryos bill has been published in October 2007. The number of books and research projects regarding the ethical issue on cognitive enhancements has increased. The World Medical Association has introduced an on-line course about medical ethics in association with the Norwegian Medical Association in August 2007.

This section offers news briefs related to medical ethics. In October 2007, Great Britain's Abortion Act will celebrate its 40th anniversary. In May 2007, a 17-year-old Irish pregnant woman was allowed to travel to Great Britain for an abortion in her second trimester because of serious fetal abnormality. On April 25, 2007, the U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act.

This section presents news briefs related to medical ethics in Great Britain. The report "Good Doctors, Safer Patients," which offers recommendations for the future of medical regulation, was published by the Department of Health in July 2006. The revised version of the guidance on good medical practice was published by the General Medical Council in November 2006. Concerns were raised about the direction of reforms of the English National Health Service by members of the British Medical Association.

The article reports on an awareness and prevention campaign against the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) in Great Britain. It was launched by the Metropolitan Police Service, together with several organizations including the Somali Information Integration Centre. According to the British Department of Health, around 74,000 women have engaged FGM and that 7000 are at risk.

The article offers news briefs related to medical ethics in Great Britain. The English High Court rejected an application to withdraw artificial ventilation from an infant with type 1 spinal muscular atrophy. The sections on information sharing with regard to sexually active young people caused controversy during governmental consultation. The government intends to amend the 1983 Mental Health Act in compliance with the requirements of the European Commission of Human Rights.

The article discusses issues related to single women, infertility treatment and medical need in Great Britain. Information about the in vitro fertilisation treatment funded by the British National Health Service (NHS) is presented. The growing debate about whether the NHS exists to meet needs or should also respond to wants is discussed. An explanation of how infertility is not considered as an illness is provided.

Reports on the ruling of Libya's Supreme Court to reverse death sentences meted out on Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor for allegedly infecting children with the HIV virus at the al-Fateh children's hospital. International medical organizations that raised objection to the sentence and the trial; Statement from the International Council of Nurses and the World Medical Association about the reversal of the death sentences.

Reports on the conflict between the U.S. federal law and the assisted suicide law of Oregon. Plan of the government to annul the Death with Dignity Act of Oregon; Legal challenges that delayed the implementation of the Oregon law; Ethical concerns regarding the Oregon law.

Reports an update on a legal case challenging the British General Medical Council's guidance on withholding and withdrawing treatment. Claim of the patient against his doctors; Incompatibility of the guidance with the Human Rights Act of 1998, according to the High Court; Overturn of the decision of the High Court by the Court of Appeal.

Focuses on the position of the British Medical Association (BMA) on the issue of abortion time limits in Great Britain. Motion debated by BMA; Developments in medicine on which supporters of the motion focused; Reason behind the option of women for abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Highlights two bills in England, Wales and Northern Ireland which will have a considerable impact on individuals whose decision-making ability is threatened or impaired. Details of the Mental Capacity Bill; Ethical issues raised by the Mental Health Bill; Challenge presented by the European Court of Human Rights on the bills.

Reports on the royal assent received by the Sexual Offences Act in November 2003. Provisions of the legislation; Information on the duties and responsibilities of health professionals regarding provision of contraceptive advice or sexual health services; Legal and ethical position of the legislation in relation to the confidentiality and safety of people under the age of 16.

Discusses issues concerning medical ethics. Law the governs proxy consent for incapacitated people; Challenges facing physicians with regards to the issue of confidentiality in Great Britain; Proposal to abolish the System on New HIV Infections in Spain.

Focuses on the European parliament report which called on the European Commission (EC) to review patient mobility and health tourism in the European Union to tackle the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Eastern Europe. Request of Peter Piot, executive director for UNAIDS, to EC to address the issue; Increase in the cases of HIV/AIDS infections in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Focuses on the issue of payment to, and anonymity of, gamete donors in Great Britain. Information on the treatment services offered in exchange for egg donation permitted by the British Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority; New provisions announced by the British government concerning gamete donors in 2004.

Focuses on issues related to medical ethics in Great Britain. Public health implications of immigrations and asylum seekers; Discussion on issues of abortion legislation; Review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act; Details of the criminalisation of HIV; Information on National Health Services guidelines on chaplaincy and the provision of spiritual care.

Reports on decisions by the British Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority on the use of preimplantation genetic diagnostic combined with human leukocyte antigen typing to select for replacement the embryos that may produce a child who would be a good tissue match for a sick sibling. Use of tissue typing in the Hashmi case; Details of the Whitetaker case.

Presents news briefs on medical ethics in Great Britain as of April 2003. Disadvantages of teaching medical techniques; Details of the consultation document issued by the Retained Organs Commission; Problems concerning the prison health care system.

Reports on the move of the British government to conduct a thorough review of the legislation governing organ donation and retention of material following postmortem examination. Proposal to address questions of organ retention and organ donation separately.

Presents news related to medical ethics as of October 2002. Concerns on medicine as an entertainment; Legal basis for confidentiality in the United Kingdom; Change made to the proposed Health Professionals' Competency Assurance Bill in New Zealand; Debate over the retention of human material in pathology collections and museums.

Focuses on commercial surrogacy in Great Britain. Reasons mothers in Great Britain engage to surrogate arrangements; Regulations on surrogate arrangements in Great Britain.

Presents developments relating to public health ethics in Great Britain as of April 2002. Scope of responsibility of public health practitioners; Shift of the focus of public health practitioners from health protection to promotion.

Provides an update on medical ethics as of December 2001. Information on the Dutch legislation on euthanasia; Issues on male circumcision; Details on the draft legislation of the Canadian Standing Committee on Health on human assisted reproduction.

Reports on the status of traveling abroad for medical treatment or procedures as of August 2001. Occurrence of legal abortions of non-residents in Great Britain; Information on cases of fertility treatment in Great Britain.

Focuses on the moral aspects of female genital mutilation. Challenges in the eradication of the practice; Efforts to outlaw the practice.

Presents news concerning medical ethics as of December 2000. International debate about the right to health; Impact of electronic communication on the provision of health care; Commercialization of human tissue samples.

The article focuses on the significant aspects of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). It mentions that some doctors are trained in CAM, but liaison would depend on the type of therapy. It states that the role of CAM was under investigation in England when the Parliamentary Science and Technology Committee had released a report about the funding of the British National Health Service (NHS) for homeopathy.

The article reports on the ruling to withdraw the governmental guidance of abortion in Ireland. The High Court of Belfast in Northern Ireland is noted to have requested the withdrawal of the guidance because of the failure of the aspects dealing with counselling and with conscientious objection to give fully clear and accurate guidance. Challenges to the abortion legislation in the country that were brought by three women from the Republic of Ireland are also noted.

The article presents the author's opinions on the question of whether presumed consent is the answer to an organ shortage which exists in Great Britain. Arguments are presented which suggest that with the use of presumed consent, which assumes that deceased people want to donate their organs unless there is evidence to the contrary, physicians can save and transform lives while still respecting the wishes of those who have acknowledged that they want to donate and protecting the right of those who do not.

The article highlights the sentiments of the British Medical Association regarding its opposition on the legalization of assisted dying in Great Britain. The association claims that the palliative care let a patient die with dignity. It also contends that non-voluntary euthanasia should not be made legal.