Category Archives: Uncategorized

Cross-jurisdictional challenges and Schedule 3 in a case of anorexia: Health Service Executive of Ireland v SM [2024] EWCOP 60

By Sydney White, 11th November 2024 This case (COP 13398706) concerns a young woman (SM) with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa and a history of depressive episodes.  She’s “habitually resident” in Ireland but has for some time been receiving treatment at Ellern Mede, a specialist eating disorder provider in England. Hayden J has heard this case beforeContinue reading “Cross-jurisdictional challenges and Schedule 3 in a case of anorexia: Health Service Executive of Ireland v SM [2024] EWCOP 60”

Detention in hospital, capacity and treatment: Silent contributions from P in court

He’s been receiving inpatient hospital treatment for about the last two weeks for lower right leg cellulitis and osteomyelitis on his sacrum but will soon be medically fit for discharge.  He objects to being in hospital and wants to leave as soon as possible. 

How much court ‘oversight’ should there be in long-running COP cases? 

By Claire Martin, 6th November 2024 UPDATE: An application to name the local authority (originally prevented by the terms of the Transparency Order) was successful. The local authority is Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead . This hearing (COP 11868452), before HHJ Tolson, on 23rd September 2024, at Reading County Court, was listed as  a two-hour ‘fact-finding’Continue reading “How much court ‘oversight’ should there be in long-running COP cases? “

A protracted hospital stay: A next hearing in the ‘renal failure’ case

At the end of October 2024, a man in his forties with Down Syndrome and learning disabilities, was removed from his home and transferred to hospital against his own and his father’s wishes.  

An urgent case: Renal failure and an application for forced ‘extraction and conveyance’ to hospital

By Claire Martin, 31st October 2024  P is a man in his 40s, with Down Syndrome and learning disabilities. Two years ago, in 2022, he was diagnosed with ‘significant renal problems’. They’ve been difficult to monitor because P’s father, with whom he lives, is said to believe that doctors intend to harm his son. TheContinue reading “An urgent case: Renal failure and an application for forced ‘extraction and conveyance’ to hospital”

Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa: A brief directions hearing (with a new postscript on transparency)

This case concerns CC, who has a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa. A Trust seeks court declarations about her treatment.

Moving forward in Re A (Covert Medication: Closed Proceedings): A social work perspective

The reality is that they are likely to experience ongoing and significant state intervention with potentially daily visits from carers, fortnightly visits from health and social care practitioners, medical and hospital appointments etc. While living at home with her mother has been what A has been asking for all along, and the court has determined that it is in her best interests to do so, it may not feel like the least intrusive option given the level of scrutiny and stress they will be exposed to

Tony Hickmott: Not the happy ending everyone had hoped for

By Amanda Hill and Lucy Series, 24th October 2024 Hopes were high back in 2022. Tony Hickmott[1] who had spent 21 years in a secure Assessment and Treatment Unit (ATU), was finally moving back to his home town of Brighton, close to his parents, Pam and Roy. This was seen as a new beginning for Tony, who hasContinue reading “Tony Hickmott: Not the happy ending everyone had hoped for”

A is back home and taking her medication voluntarily: The final hearing in Re A (Covert Medication: Closed Proceedings)

By Claire Martin, 23rd October 2024 Editorial note: Another observer (Meg Niven Withers, a social worker) also watched this same hearing and has blogged separately here: Moving forward in Re A (Covert Medication: Closed Proceedings): A social work perspective The case (Re: A) has been in the Court of Protection since 2018 and we’ve been following itContinue reading “A is back home and taking her medication voluntarily: The final hearing in Re A (Covert Medication: Closed Proceedings)”