Christian doctors have called for a ban on financial rewards that encourage hospitals to increase their use of a controversial end-of-life care plan.
It is believed that hospitals have received £30million for placing more patients on the Liverpool Care Pathway (LPC) over the last three years.
Outcry
The pathway, run by the National Health Service, caused a huge public outcry after reports emerged of dying patients having their food and water withdrawn without the knowledge of their loved ones.
A national audit also found that up to 60,000 conscious patients die on the LCP every year without knowing that they were placed on the pathway.
Palliative care consultant Dr Jeff Stephen said that the pathway, if used properly, could help relieve the pain of dying patients.
But he added: “It remains a tool, and it is only as good as those who use it. There is always potential for misuse and abuse and there are undoubtedly instances where this occurs.
“Where these arise by intention then those involved should be held to account, but more often they occur through poor understanding and inadequate training.
“We owe it to patients to not only furnish the means to better care, but also to equip adequately those who provide it”.
Remove financial incentives
The Christian Medical Fellowship, which has over 4,000 UK doctors as members, said that financial incentives for using the LPC should be immediately removed, with the funds being used to provide better training for medical staff.
It also argued that only patients who were “imminently dying” should be placed on the pathway with the knowledge and consent of family members. Any decision to use the pathway should be made by a senior doctor solely on the grounds of a patient’s health, and those who show signs of improvement should be taken off immediately.
It said: “Non-clinical priorities in the use of the pathway, especially financial priorities, must be eradicated and every patient treated solely according to their need”.
Andrea Williams, Chief Executive of Christian Concern, said: “It is of paramount importance that the lives of the most vulnerable are protected. Staff must be trained properly in the use of the LCP to prevent its misuse”.
The reported incidents of abuse under the LCP are currently subject to an independent enquiry launched by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
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