The non-treatment scandal and the ‘hidden’ victims of COVID-19 (July 2020)

Summary

In this article, published by The Justice Gap, Theo Huckle QC discusses the issue of people not receiving treatment because of diversion of pre-existing NHS resources to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are legal issues which arise about the rights of citizens to receive – and continue to receive – treatment from their health service. What are those rights and what right do Governments in the UK or the health Trusts have to reduce services and not treat existing patients because of the current global health crisis?