The RHN clearly failed to provide high-quality, patient centred care – and part of this Court of Protection judgment is dedicated to exploring why this happened and what lessons might be learned.
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C-section and anaesthesia: An unexpected unified decision
There had been two major changes in the situation since the first hearing a week ago. Firstly, SM’s baby was now in the breech position. Secondly, as expressed by Mr Justice Holman, the Trust was now “not necessarily resistant to doing some form of spinal anaesthesia on the day if that is her express preference and she is cooperative”.
Eight Litigants in Person
My sense, for this family, was that they had not had the opportunity to have a conversation with one another about their various grievances – and they seemed to have an appetite to do so, or at least to air them and have them heard. The court setting is not able to facilitate this in the way they might have needed emotionally, yet I thought DJ McIlwaine offered a textbook illustration of how to, sensitively yet determinedly, conduct a hearing with LIPs – quite a feat with so many LIPs to boot!
Does P have capacity to consent to sale of a house and move to residential care?
By Celia Kitzinger, 11th November 2021 Editorial update: Some of the ‘facts’ conveyed in this hearing turned out later not to be true. Check out the subsequent hearing in this case which corrects some of the ‘facts’ reported here: “Approving a conveyancing plan to move P to residential care“ “I have concerns over a wholeContinue reading “Does P have capacity to consent to sale of a house and move to residential care?”
Navigating a family feud on P’s death-bed
By Celia Kitzinger, 9th November 2021 She’s in her eighties, with significant cognitive decline, and delirium secondary to numerous infections and “in all likelihood in the last weeks of her life,” said the judge. She lacks capacity to make her own decisions about who she has contact with. One of her daughters, Ann[1], and Ann’s daughter (P’sContinue reading “Navigating a family feud on P’s death-bed”
Last-minute vacated hearings in the Court of Protection
By David York, 8th November 2021 For many public observers in the Court of Protection, it will be a familiar experience to request access to a hearing, only to get an email response saying that the hearing has been vacated or adjourned. This leaves members of the public wondering what actually happened to that caseContinue reading “Last-minute vacated hearings in the Court of Protection”
Reflections on Disability and Reproductive Justice in a court hearing
P’s awake while giving birth, adding layers of complexity to what could be considered P’s best interests because she raised the importance to her of bonding and the symbiotic relationship between mother and baby. To her, being awake and with her partner are fundamental to establishing that relationship. Without her ability to participate, how could the court have recognised this?
C-section and general anaesthesia against her wishes? Capacity and best interests
Mr Justice Hayden is well-known (and celebrated) for his robust defence of autonomy and self-determination. And yet in this instance I got the impression that, faced with a decision about a pregnant woman, his protective instincts had (temporarily) overwhelmed him. I am relieved that he adjourned the hearing rather than precipitously (in my view) declaring SM to lack capacity and making a premature decision about her best interests.
Capacity to refuse intensive care
Gaby Parker and Celia Kitzinger, 30th October 2021 A man in his 40s (PH) has bronchiectasis. Last night his oxygen levels became seriously low (79%) and doctors raised with him the possibility of transfer to the intensive care unit, or to high dependency care. He refused to go. He’s made it unambiguously clear that he’ll consent toContinue reading “Capacity to refuse intensive care”
A judicial U-turn? From ‘no contact’ to ‘main carer’
At an emergency hearing on 24th September 2021, His Honour Judge Tindal issued an injunction against Miss F preventing her from having any contact with Mr G (Case 13382192). At the hearing I attended on 21st October 2021, not only was the injunction made in September lifted, but the court encouraged Miss F to have as much contact with Mr G as possible.
Promoting Open Justice in the Court of Protection 