National Journal – British decision on human life maintained by artificial means controversial What stopped in Justice, now can be resolved between the family and the team.

The British Supreme Court has made a controversial decision about the fate of thousands of very sick people, in a vegetative state with no chance of recovery. medical. If there is consensus, the patient's blood supply and hydration tubes can be extinguished.

The judge stated that the decision did not violate the European Convention on Human Rights. British law says that the vegetative state is when the person, for at least four weeks: does not show signs of consciousness; does not interact or respond to external stimuli; and has only basic reflexes (opens and closes eyes, sleeps, wakes up, yawns); can even move the feet and hands, but unintentionally and still breathes without the help of household appliances.

The decision is controversial. He faces ethical and religious convictions. Activists say that the removal of food and water, essential elements of life, is unacceptable. Brazilian lawyer Daniel Wang explains the operation of the law in the United Kingdom

"There is a presumption in English law that life must be preserved, but this presumption is not absolute. it's somewhat controversial, but for English law, simply keeping a patient's life in a vegetative state is not considered a sufficient benefit to maintain treatment and continue life ", Wang explains.

The lawyer also points out that the ruling does not mean that the UK has released euthanasia, when doctors induce the patient to die with an injection or a drug.C & # 39; is still illegal in Brazil, as in Brazil

"You give an injection to the patient and the patient dies. His action that leads to the death of the patient. While at the end of treatment, it's not your action that leads to the death of the patient, it's the natural flow of things that leads to the patient's death. But you simply do not interfere with this medical treatment, "says Daniel Wang

The case was brought to court in November 2017 by the public health system and family of one. 50 year old man victim of an attack. and had severe brain damage. He died a month later, but the trial continued. The judges ruled that it was an important issue that needed to be resolved in the country.

The decision of the British Supreme Court can have an impact on thousands of families in the United Kingdom. It is estimated that the country has 24,000 people in a vegetative state or with a minimum level of consciousness. The courts have evaluated such cases over the last 25 years

. It takes time, prolongs the agony of families and costs justice and health care. What the judges have concluded is that the agreement between parents and doctors is sufficient to ensure public confidence in the decision.