Bishop attacks Care Pathway

The Bishop of Portsmouth has criticised controversial medical guidelines about the care of dying people and warned their relatives to protect them from attempts to withdraw care.

In a homily Bishop Philip Egan criticised the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) which last month the Government ordered an inquiry into, following allegations that it was being misused.

In his homily last Saturday Bishop Egan called for a re-evaluation of the pathway. He said: "My own experience, together with anecdotal evidence, suggests that what should be ‘supported dying' becomes blurred with ‘assisted dying'."

"To withdraw feeding and hydration to bring about death, even if permitted by law, is a heartless act of cruelty towards the weakest and most defenceless. It is in effect, as Blessed John Paul said, euthanasia."