Member

Amendment 15 would apply stricter safeguards to the provision of artificial nutrition to patients detained under the Act. The noble Earl, Lord Howe, referred to nasogastric feeding and the importance of combating its use. We recognise that artificial feeding in this way is extremely serious—this was spoken to by the noble Baroness, Lady Watkins—but it can sometimes be a life-saving treatment. As ever, clinical decision-making is key. There are already regulation-making powers in the Act that can be used to place treatment under different safeguards. However, I can say today that we are committed to engaging with stakeholders on whether revisions need to be made on this front, including in relation to artificial nutrition, and I hope that will be welcomed.