R v. Adams (UK case)

R v. Adams is a significant UK legal case concerning medical ethics and the boundaries of consent in end-of-life care. The case involved a doctor who prescribed high doses of pain relief to terminally ill patients, which some argued could hasten death. The court ruled that if the intention was to relieve suffering, and not to cause death, the actions were lawful. This case clarified that providing palliative care, even if it may inadvertently shorten life, is permissible when aimed at relieving pain and respecting a patient’s wishes, emphasizing the importance of intent in medical practice.