Dying patients denied pain relief because of legal fears

Dying patients are being denied adequate medication to control symptoms and relive pain because [UK] nurses fear prosecution for assisting suicide, a Nursing Times survey has found. The respondents acknowledged restricting medication left patients in more pain than necessary and prolonged their lives against their wishes. One nurse commented: “I was worried about the authorities scrutinising the medication record with the intention of prosecuting me for over-medication, even though the dosage was ordered by a physician and necessary to relieve the patient’s pain and suffering.”