PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice has written to Health Secretary Alan Milburn seeking assurances that there will be no repeat in England of hospital operations in Scotland when surgeons amputated healthy legs.

The Edinburgh-born Labour backbencher was horrified to learn that two mentally disturbed patients in Falkirk persuaded the NHS to cut off healthy limbs because they were falsely convinced they were diseased.

As well as writing to Mr Milburn, he has discussed the incidents with his Junior Minister John Hutton.

Mr Hutton told him: "No discussions have taken place with the British Medical Association concerning the ethics of amputating healthy limbs as a way of addressing a mental health problem.

"Doctors' decisions about treatment and care for a patient are based on a thorough assessment of the individual's condition, taking account of the patient's needs and wishes, the evidence base for the effectiveness of treatment and the resources available."

Mr Prentice said: "As a lay person, I had no idea that these operations were taking place and I was even more shocked to find out from the Health Minister that there have been no discussions with the BMA concerning the ethics of amputating healthy limbs as a way of addressing a mental health problem.

"The whole thing seems incredible to me. There is something chilling about the amputation of healthy limbs.

"Surely there should be guidelines on this and I have written to the Secretary of State for Health, Alan Milburn, to urge him to begin discussions with the BMA."

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