A CANCER victim's parents have started a nationwide petition calling for terminally-ill patients to have the right to choose whether they hear bad news or not.

Eric and Lynn Harvey , of Kidderminster, have started the Vickie's Wish campaign after they criticised how their 24-year-old daughter was told that she was going to die.

Vickie Harvey died Acute Myeloid Leukaemia on Tuesday, December 10 last year after a brave 15-month battle with the disease.

Her parents are now calling on the Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt to introduce a waiver where cancer patients, or people with other terminal diseases, can choose whether they want to know what is going to happen to them or whether they just want their family to be told.

Mr Harvey, 62, said: "It was always Vickie's wish that she never got told anything bad. This doctor just took it upon herself and told her everything.

"There must be a lot of people with terminal illnesses who perhaps don't want to be told or don't mind whether they are told.

"It's so simple. It's going to protect the patients and the doctors."

For the idea to be discussed in Parliament, the Vickie's Wish petition will need 100,000 signatures.

Mr Harvey added: "It's going very well. We've got on average 500 signatures a day since Friday [when the petition was set up]."

Mr and Mrs Harvey formally complained to Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust about the doctor who treated Miss Harvey and have been to a meeting with the head of the Trust, head of haematology and head of nursing.

Mr Harvey added: "They were very sympathetic, they weren't saying that we were wrong. We've refused to see the doctor as it will bring back far too many memories."

Miss Harvey had to sign a waiver to say she understood what medication she was taking so Mr Harvey believes the new waiver could be incorporated into this.

Nearly £6,000 has also been raised for Leukemia and Lymphoma Research in memory of Miss Harvey, including £150 from Mr Harvey's employer Sainsbury's.

He added: "We need closure on this. We need some sort of apology from the doctor."

A spokeswoman for the Trust said: "We have met with Mr and Mrs Harvey to discuss their concerns and we will keep them informed of the outcomes of this meeting.”

To sign the petition visit you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/vickies-wish