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New end-of-life care legal rights

Relatives are to get a legal right to be consulted before food or water is withdrawn from terminally-ill patients under the so-called "pathway to death," under new Government proposals.

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Charity calls for fresh care pathway audit

Marie Curie Cancer Care welcomed the proposed new legal right for patients to be consulted on end-of-life care decisions.

But the charity said the Government should go further and called for the next independent national audit of the Liverpool Care Pathway to be brought forward.

The Liverpool Care Pathway has enabled thousands of people to experience dignified care in the last hours and days of life. It was developed to spread the hospice model of end of life care into hospitals and other healthcare settings.

We have become increasingly concerned about the damaging media coverage which reports negative experiences of people in hospital and the end of life.

That is why we are calling for the next independent national audit to be brought forward so that we can identify as soon at possible where these failings are taking place.

Once this is done, an action plan must be put in place for improvements where care is below the highest standards that the public expects.

– Imelda Redmond, director of policy and public affairs at Marie Curie
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New end-of-life care legal rights

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