Staff at a south London hospital have been accused of trying to carry out “euthanasia by stealth”, by falsifying a ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ (DNR) document for an elderly patient.

The Metropolitan Police is investigating workers at Sutton’s St Helier Hospital after the 95-year-old woman’s family discovered the document had been created and disputed its contents.

Hospital staff claimed the woman’s granddaughter had agreed to the DNR document.

But the granddaughter has reportedly accused the staff of making it up.

The family claim they only learned the document had been created when paramedics delivering the woman home from a hospital stay handed it to them.

We are not identifying the patient at the request of her family, who were “shocked” when the document was handed over.

“This is about the falsification of a statement by a family member,” her son told Your Local Guardian. “Those responsible should be arrested and charged.

“I’m not going to let this drop. I’m really angry. We believe that whoever has done this is a danger to the public.

“I’m sure this is not just my mother. It’s euthanasia by stealth and I believe it’s happening all over the UK.

“When Mum found out, she was really sad and upset. We’ve got no faith in the NHS for the future.”

The Metropolitan Police confirmed it is looking into the document, which was signed by a registrar and a consultant.

The family allege that the woman’s son and daughter were first approached about a DNR and refused consent.

“There was nothing seriously wrong with her,” said her son. “We’ve got pictures of her when she came out of the hospital. She’s smiling. She had just passed a cardiogram.”

Instead of accepting her children’s refusal, staff are alleged to have then asked the patient’s granddaughter instead and written in the DNR document that she agreed.

But Your Local Guardian understands that the granddaughter has recently signed a statement for police claiming she refused consent and did so in the presence of a witness.

A spokesperson for the hospital trust said: “We are aware there is an investigation, but as this is ongoing we are unable to comment further at this stage.”

*Has your relative been issued with a DNR document against your will? If so, email charles.thomson@newsquest.co.uk.