AN Oxford hospital has paid £1,000 compensation to the family of a man whose life support was switched off against their wishes.
In February, the John Radcliffe Hospital was named in a report which said the NHS was failing to treat older people with care, compassion, dignity and respect. Ann Abraham, the parliamentary and health service ombudsman, detailed how the life support machine of an elderly man, known only as Mr C, at the Oxford hospital was switched off without his family’s permission. He had become seriously ill shortly after undergoing heart surgery.
The family complained that they found it impossible to get clear information about what was happening, and received conflicting messages as to whether or not Mr C had died.
A ‘do not attempt resuscitation’ note was also put in his records against the will of his family.
The ombudsman upheld the complaint and found Mr C’s life support was switched off against the expressed wishes of his family, depriving them of being with him at the time of his death.
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