The Telegraph reported yesterday that while giving evidence to the UK Covid Inquiry on Friday, Hancock said it was “obvious” the orders had been “wrongly applied” in some circumstances and backed an investigation into their use during the pandemic.
Hancock acknowledged that the issue of consent is crucial and expressed his support for a review, although he could not recall ministers looking into it during his time in government due to their focus on preventing the problem.
He insisted he acted “immediately” on concerns over the inappropriate use of DNRs during the covid crisis when he was first alerted to them. And claimed to have acted immediately on concerns over the inappropriate use of DNRs, using the daily press conference to address the issue and discussing it with NHS leadership.
The UK government was threatened with legal action over inconsistent advice on DNRs during the pandemic, leading to the publication of new patient-facing guidelines in July 2020.
A 2021 survey by the care watchdog found that blanket DNR orders were imposed on care home residents without their consent, and people with learning disabilities were also affected, showing a disregard for disabled people’s rights. Age UK described the findings as “extremely disturbing” and confirmed concerns that people’s rights were disregarded during the pandemic.
During his testimony, Hancock also made the case for future lockdowns, despite questions over their justification. Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has expressed doubts about the effectiveness of national shutdowns in defeating the virus. Johnson described the restrictions as “literally medieval in their savagery and consequences.”...<<<Read More>>>...