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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 12

Inside the Ethics Committee: Series 12: Episode 1: Permanent Vegetative State: Withdrawing Nutrition and Hydration

Withdrawing Feeding in Children

Episode 1

Episode 1: Permanent Vegetative State: Withdrawing Nutrition and Hydration

Series 12

Permanent Vegetative State: Withdrawing Nutrition and Hydration

BBC Radio 4 - Inside the Ethics Committee, Series 12, Permanent Vegetative State: Withdrawing Nutrition and Hydration

Is it ethical to withdraw nourishment from a young man in a permanent vegetative state?

A car accident leaves Ben in a permanent vegetative state. With no prospect of recovery, is it ethical to withdraw the nutrition and hydration that is keeping him alive?

A young man, Ben, is critically injured in a road traffic accident and is left in a coma. 

The family are desperate to save him but, despite the efforts of his medical team, he doesn't recover. 

He emerges from a coma into a vegetative state. He fluctuates between periods of sleep and wakefulness but is completely unaware of his surroundings.

After a year, the vegetative state he is in is deemed to be permanent.

Unable to articulate his wishes himself, Ben's family consider what is in his best interests. They believe he would find his day-to-day existence intolerable. 

He can breathe for himself so the only treatment keeping him alive is the nutrition and hydration that he receives through a feeding tube into his stomach. 

With no prospect of recovery, is it ethical to withdraw the nutrition and hydration that is keeping him alive? 

Producer: Beth Eastwood

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 12

Episode 1: Permanent Vegetative State: Withdrawing Nutrition and Hydration

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