Cross Party Group Meeting, 5 March 2008: COPD and Palliative Care Services/ GMC's review of its publication Withholding and Withdrawing Life-prolonging Treatments: Good Practice in Decision-making

The British Lunch Foundation (BLF) works to provide information and support to those diagnosed with lung disease. They also campaign for improvements in all areas of lung health, and invest money in research aiming to improve the diagnosis and treatment of lung conditions.

Andrew Powrie-Smith, Head of the British Lung Foundation Scotland & Northern Ireland delivered a presentation You’ve got the wrong the disease: COPD and Palliative Care Services

There was also a discussion led by Sharon Burton, Senor Policy Advisor, General Medical Council regarding the General Medical Council's review of its publication Withholding and Withdrawing Life-prolonging Treatments: Good Practice in Decision-making which was published in 2002.

UPDATE: New guidance for doctors, Treatment and care towards the end of life: good practice in decision making, came into effect on 1 July 2010.

This guidance replaces the booklet Withholding and withdrawing life-prolonging treatments (2002) (360kb, pdf). It expands on the guidance in Consent, patients and doctors making decisions together, which sets out the principles on which good clinical decisions should be based, and provides a framework for good practice when providing treatment and care for patients who are reaching the end of their lives.

Modernising Medical Careers (MMC): Professor Sir John Tooke has published his report on MMC: Aspiring to Excellence (8 January 2008). His report suggests a reworking of many aspects of postgraduate medical education (PGME) and contains detailed recommendations (details available at www.mmcinquiry.org.uk).

Meeting Papers

Agenda 05 March 2008

Approved minute of XPG meeting - 5 March 2008

The GMC and End of Life Care – a position paper

GMC relevant case law since 2002 (a summary)