Toby Young, described by the Daily Record as a "pound shop Peter Hitchens" has laid bare the thinking of the Conservatives. He takes the view that it is a waste of money to keep old people alive. Of course, Toby Young is rapidly becoming old himself.
Thanks to Tory cuts, the NHS is unable to cope with the "normal" needs of the population and they are already talking about the "tough decisions" which will have to be taken.
GPs have been advised to consider "Do Not Resuscitate" discussions with elderly patients. One practice (Llynfi Surgery in Maesteg, South Wales) jumped the gun somewhat by sending out a note to patients saying that those with a life-limiting illness should opt for DNR.
One patient told Sky News, "...It made me feel worthless. I've lived with cancer for eight years and I want to live another couple of years. I'm not digging my grave yet."
The advice is that GPs should have *discussions* with elderly patients. That is different from bullying them to sign a DNR form. That is different from making people feel worthless.
The original text of the Hippocratic Oath contains the phrase, "I will use treatment to help the sick according to my ability and judgment, but never with a view to injury and wrong-doing. Neither will I administer a poison to anybody when asked to do so, nor will I suggest such a course." This is often shortened to "do no harm".
The government's pathetic failure to "ramp up" testing for the virus is part and parcel of Toby Young's thinking. It is much cheaper not to test and if old people die as a result that's all to the good in his twisted philosophy.
When all this is over it is the Tory government which will need resuscitating and the public might consider DNR in that case.
Derek McMillan is a writer in Durrington-on-Sea.
He has written 11 works of fiction and 7 works of non-fiction including Socialist Reviews
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