British journal of community nursing
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The UK Supreme Court recently delivered its first judgement based on the application of the 2005 Mental Capacity Act. The plurality judgement given by Lady Hale clarified the law on medical futility and the circumstances under which a district nurse is lawfully able to withdraw life-sustaining treatment. It is essential that district nurses know when care and treatment becomes futile to ensure they are acting lawfully if a decision is taken to withdraw that care and treatment. This article considers the impact of the Supreme Court ruling on district nurse practice.
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Following an outbreak of measles in Swansea in 2013, the U. K. courts were asked to order the immunisation of children after an unresolved dispute over the merits of the vaccination between the parents of two children. This article reviews the involvement and approach of the courts in cases of hotly disputed immunisation and argues that going to litigation and obtaining a court order is no guarantee that the vaccination will be given to the child.
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Br J Community Nurs · Oct 2013
Catheter-related infections in patients on home parenteral nutrition.
Long-term parenteral nutrition in the community is a practice that is growing steadily in the UK. Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) in these patients is one of the major causes of morbidity and re-hospitalisation. The prevention of CRBSI impacts the quality of life and outcomes of these patients.