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Inside the Ethics Committee

Factual: Health & Wellbeing

Religion & Ethics

Joan Bakewell and a panel of experts wrestle with the ethics of a real-life medical case.

Joan Bakewell is joined by a panel of experts to wrestle with the ethics arising from a real-life medical case.

Inside the Ethics Committee: Series 11

Inside the Ethics Committee: Series 11: Episode 3: Withdrawing Feeding in Children

Withdrawing Feeding in Children

Episode 3

Episode 3: Withdrawing Feeding in Children

Series 11

BBC Radio 4 - Inside the Ethics Committee, Series 11, Withdrawing Feeding in Children

Is it ever ethical to withhold food and water in a child who is not dying?

Food and water are the very essence of life. Is there ever a time when they should be withheld from someone who is not dying? And what if that someone is a child?

Food and water are the very essence of life. But is there ever a time when food and water should be withheld in someone who is not otherwise dying? And what if that someone is a child?

Emma is born with a smooth brain; a life-limiting condition that means she will never develop skills beyond that of a 6 month old baby. Her condition also means she has difficulty swallowing and has to be fed artificially. 

As she passes her tenth birthday things start to become more difficult; she increasingly seems to be in pain but the medical team are not sure why and Emma cannot tell them.

Her consultants eventually trace the source of her pain to her intestines and slowly they realise that they can no longer feed her artificially. They are all agreed that feeding must be withheld to ease her pain but they know that would ultimately lead to her death. 

Although her prognosis has always been shortened, Emma is not otherwise dying - her heart is strong, her kidneys are functioning, and she breathes without difficulty. Withholding nutrition would bring her life to an end over the coming weeks; should the team be making those decisions in a child who is not already dying?

Joan Bakewell leads a panel of experts to discuss.

Producer: Lorna Stewart

Photo Credit: Joe Raedle /Getty Images.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Joan Bakewell and a panel of experts tackle the ethics involved in a real hospital case.

Joan Bakewell is joined by a panel of experts to tackle the ethics involved in a real hospital case.

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Inside the Ethics Committee

Series 11

Episode 3: Withdrawing Feeding in Children

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