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BBC News Online: Health

Monday, 27 December, 1999, 13:48 GMT

Patients demand 'treatment as humans'

A pressure group for patients has made a series of demands for change in the health service, saying they want more considerate treatment from the medical profession.

Patient Concern says doctors and other health workers must pay more attention to the wishes and needs of those they are looking after.

Roger Goss, a director for the group, said: "There is a need for a change of attitude and culture, particularly the attitude towards patients, treating them as humans rather than objects that have to be serviced like a car."

He is particularly keen, in light of the Alder Hey Children's Hospital organ stripping scandal, to see consent forms revised so they give patients and their relatives more information and ensure they know what they are agreeing to.

There is a need for a change of attitude and culture, particularly the attitude towards patients, treating them as humans rather than objects that have to be serviced like a car
Roger Goss, Patient Concern

Forms should be in plain English, giving full details of the planned procedure and a summary of the risks and benefits of the treatment, says the pressure group.

It also calls for an open debate on rationing of treatments, with patients having a say in what is or is not provided by the NHS.

Living wills

And a protocol for living wills is required in every hospital, it says, so patients can ensure their wishes on accepting or refusing treatment are respected.

Mr Goss added: "These are really opportunities, they are things which could be done. Revising the system of getting consent is the most important - at the moment it is essentially a blank cheque."

He pointed to cases of women who undergo hysterectomies having their ovaries removed without giving consent, and people being resuscitated after long periods of time, leaving them in danger of serious brain damage.

Dr Peter Hawker, chairman of the British Medical Association's committee for hospital consultants, said: "Of course there are going to be individual doctors whose attitudes are out of date and unacceptable, but I think they are the minority.

"Where I do accept there is a problem is over pressure of work. There are times when the best of us don't provide that extra sympathy and support, not because we don't want to, but because we don't have the time."

Related to this story:
Call for survey of struck-off patients (12 Sep 99 | Health)
Hospital apologises for organ stripping (21 Dec 99 | Health)
Commons call for organ shake-up (14 Dec 99 | Health)

Internet Links: British Medical Association Doctor Patient Partnership
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