THE family of a woman given a “do not resuscitate” order by doctors without her knowledge were horrified by her treatment, lawyers say.

Janet Tracey, a former manager at Trent Lodge Care Home, in Enfield, asked medical staff at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge, to remove the instruction from her notes.

But just three days later on March 5 it was added again without her knowledge or consent and she died on March 7.

Her husband David is mounting a judicial review against the decision, saying she would have “taken great pride” in changing the system to make sure others do not suffer the same feat.

Merry Varney, his solicitor, with firm Leigh Day and Co, said: “I think as they have said themselves the family have been, in a very unpleasant way, surprised that the orders can be placed on people’s records without their knowledge or consent.

“They are in a factual dispute with the hospital in relation to consents and whether or not they were given by the family. We say that dispute needs to be resolved but it’s not the central issue to the legal case “Janet had full mental capacity and was able to make her own decisions. She was in discussions with staff and family. They have been horrified by the treatment that Janet received.”

She said that while compensation is part of the legal case it is not the main objective for Mr Tracey in suing Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Addenbrooke’s.

The hospital has said it does not agree with the family on the facts of the case and its clinicians were following its policy, which remains in place.