Doctors ‘ help woman, 72, to die by turning off pacemaker’

A WOMAN of 72 was helped to die by doctors who switched off her heart pacemaker, it was claimed yesterday.

Nina Adamowicz died after telling medics she did not want her heart revived by the device she had used for nearly 20 years.

Since her death, doctors have reportedly expressed concerns that the case was ‘ uncomfortably close to euthanasia’.

MPs last night called for a criminal inquiry into whether staff responsible for switching off the pacemaker should be prosecuted under laws forbidding assisted suicide.

The death of Miss Adamowicz is not thought to have been referred to the Court of Protection – the High Court branch considering appeals from patients, doctors or families for lifesaving health treatment to be withdrawn.

But the BBC reported yesterday that it has been discussed in medical conferences, where it ‘generates considerable debate’.

The most recent similar case was that of a 50- year- old socialite who asked for doctors to stop kidney dialysis as she did not want to become old, poor and ugly. But her case was considered in detail by a Court of Protection judge, who ordered doctors to comply with her request.

Miss Adamowicz’s request was first publicised by the BBC last year, when, interviewed by Radio Four presenter Jennifer Tracey, she said that the pacemaker was ‘very uncomfortable’.

At night she felt that her heart was stopping and that she was dying. ‘I say, thank you, goodbye, then bleep, I was brought back,’ she said.

‘I strongly believe I have the right to decide whether I want it on or off.’ Miss Tracey remarked during the interview that Miss Adamowicz, whose only family is thought to be her 65-year- old sister, looked ‘healthy and well’.

Her request was reportedly granted in October last year despite her hospital trust’s initial hesitation.

It is thought that various meetings, psychological tests and legal consultations first took place to ensure that she understood the consequences of her request.

The Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board, responsible for health care in Miss Adamowicz’s home town, did not respond to requests for comment from the Daily Mail yesterday.

But Robert Flello, Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent South called for a criminal inquiry.

He said: ‘A person has the right to choose whether or not they want health treatment to be continued.

‘But this is the switching off of a machine integral to her life. There is no grey area here. The decision by the Health Board ended her life. This is a case that should be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.’

Assisting a suicide can bring a 14-year jail sentence. However, the rules on prosecutions were rewritten by former DDP Sir Keir Starmer in 2010, without reference to Parliament or elected MPs.

Sir Keir’s guidelines say no prosecution will be brought if those who helped in a death were not acting out of malice or greed. But his rules did not allow medical professionals to take a hand in a suicide.

Amendments introduced by the current DPP, Alison Saunders – which allow medical staff to take part if they do not influence the victim – have been challenged in the courts and senior judges have yet to rule on them.

MPs voted heavily against an Assisted Dying Bill in the the Commons last year.

‘I say goodbye, then it’s bleep’