Addenbrooke's resuscitation policy row goes to court: High court hears claims that woman was 'badgered' into agreeing to 'do not resuscitate' order
The husband of a woman who died in Addenbrooke's hospital, Cambridge, has claimed doctors "badgered" her about agreeing to a "do not resuscitate" order. David Tracey alleges two DNR notices were added to his wife Janet's medical records without her knowledge or consent.
The 63-year-old care home manager died in March last year after fracturing her neck in a car accident soon after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.
The first notice, issued on 27 February, was cancelled on 2 March after Janet and one of her four daughters found out about it and objected. A second was placed on 5 March, two days before she died. Her husband claims Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust acted unlawfully.
It denies the claims, saying staff sought Janet's informed consent. A high court hearing in London is determining issues of fact before a judicial review in February. Tracey wants to clarify whether there is a legal duty to inform patients with capacity whether a DNR has been placed in their notes and whether they have any right to be consulted.
Tracey, a retired engineer, said he was told by a doctor that if there were problems with ventilation being withdrawn for his wife, medical staff would let her "slip away". He did not know about the first DNR notice until after it had been cancelled.
"At one point, she did say they were trying to get rid of her, and I didn't believe her. I just said, 'don't be so silly', which proved to be a mistake."
Tracey said: "I had rather they hadn't kept badgering her all the time. They told her she had a 1% chance of leaving the hospital. What kind of thing is that to say to someone in hospital?"
Two days before Janet died, he discussed her future with doctors but there was no detailed discussion about a DNR. "It was my wife's wish she did not want a DNR. She was quite clear, and it was not my decision to make, it was hers. It was her life." The hearing was adjourned until Tuesday. The Guardian
The husband of a woman who died in Addenbrooke's hospital, Cambridge, has claimed doctors "badgered" her about agreeing to a "do not resuscitate" order. David Tracey alleges two DNR notices were added to his wife Janet's medical records without her knowledge or consent.
The 63-year-old care home manager died in March last year after fracturing her neck in a car accident soon after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.
The first notice, issued on 27 February, was cancelled on 2 March after Janet and one of her four daughters found out about it and objected. A second was placed on 5 March, two days before she died. Her husband claims Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust acted unlawfully.
It denies the claims, saying staff sought Janet's informed consent. A high court hearing in London is determining issues of fact before a judicial review in February. Tracey wants to clarify whether there is a legal duty to inform patients with capacity whether a DNR has been placed in their notes and whether they have any right to be consulted.
Tracey, a retired engineer, said he was told by a doctor that if there were problems with ventilation being withdrawn for his wife, medical staff would let her "slip away". He did not know about the first DNR notice until after it had been cancelled.
"At one point, she did say they were trying to get rid of her, and I didn't believe her. I just said, 'don't be so silly', which proved to be a mistake."
Tracey said: "I had rather they hadn't kept badgering her all the time. They told her she had a 1% chance of leaving the hospital. What kind of thing is that to say to someone in hospital?"
Two days before Janet died, he discussed her future with doctors but there was no detailed discussion about a DNR. "It was my wife's wish she did not want a DNR. She was quite clear, and it was not my decision to make, it was hers. It was her life." The hearing was adjourned until Tuesday. The Guardian
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