'I Don't Want to Switch Off. I Want to Be Treated' Cout Decision Is Blatant Age Discrimination, Says Family

The Herald › August 27, 2005

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Summary

THE family of an 86-year-old critically ill man said last night that a court ruling allowing doctors to withdraw medical treatment amounted to "blatant age discrimination".

Raja Barkat Ahmed's son, Raja IbrarAhmed, 49, a native of Glasgow, said: "I said to my dad that you have everything wrong with you . . . your kidneys are not functioning and your heart is failing. I explained that doctors wanted to switch off his life support. My father said 'No. They are wrong. I don't want to switch off the machine. I want them to treat me'. " The anguish caused for the family and the dilemma this case presents for doctors raises wide-ranging ethical questions.

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Extract

'I Don't Want to Switch Off. I Want to Be Treated' Cout Decision Is Blatant Age Discrimination, Says Family

Professor Sheila McLean, an expert in law and ethics in medicine at GlasgowUniversity, said it was probably instinctive to say life- sustainin...

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