The Fife daughter of a pensioner who died after being put on the Liverpool Care Pathway without permission has welcomed an independent review into the controversial scheme.
Ann Murdoch (65) was furious when her father Arthur Oszek (86) was refused food and water and left to die because doctors had placed him on the LCP scheme, which was designed to speed up and make a patient’s last hours as comfortable as possible.
Ms Murdoch, of Kirkcaldy, was adamant her father was not dying and, after 20 hours of last-ditch discussions with doctors, he was taken off the plan.
But it was too late and Mr Oszek, of Ayr, died just 17 hours later as his body was unable to recover.
After a barrage of complaints, the Government has now pledged to set up an independent review of the LCP for dying patients.
Ms Murdoch said: ”I’m glad they’re reviewing it because it’s disgusting that doctors can put people on the Liverpool Care Pathway without even telling the families.
”My father was still a healthy man. He had only taken a few tumbles and needed to rest. He still wanted to live, but he had that option taken away from him.
”It feels like my dad has been murdered.”
Ms Murdoch said LCP could help some patients.
”I don’t believe it should be scrapped. In some cases people should be relieved of their suffering.”