This appeal was made to the British Medical Association in June 2018
An urgent appeal is to be made to the British Medical Association Annual Representative Meeting to consider a motion on medical mediation in an attempt to resolve conflicts between parents and clinicians over the management of very sick or incurable children. It aims to facilitate and allow both sides to come to an acceptance of the final decision.
- That medical mediation is entered into voluntarily.
- That attempts are made to recruit suitably experienced and trained medical mediators.
- That the medical mediators are acceptable to both parties.
- That the mediators are neutral and outwith the clinical team involved.
- That they engage in face to face mediation.
- That mediators take into account the values and beliefs of the parents.
- That strict privacy is maintained and that publicity should not be permitted.
- That the substance of mediation should not be used in evidence in the event mediation failing.
- That mediators do not give legal advice and, if lawyers, are suitably trained in clinical matters.
- Medical mediation has been available free of charge to a limited extent for over a decade, but needs to be much more widely available
- ( By contrast, court hearings are adversarial, costly, accompanied by publicity and result in perceived “winners”, and “losers” )
Dr Anthony Cole, J P F R C P Edin. F R C P C H
Chairman,
Medical Ethics Alliance