The ‘voice’ of P in a s.21A hearing: Reflecting on lost opportunities

By Gill Loomes-Quinn, 24th November 2023 On the afternoon of Monday 6th November 2023, I observed a hearing before Deputy District Judge Weereratne, sitting (remotely) at First Avenue House in London, in the matter of Case No: 14157245 – MG (by her Litigation Friend, the Official Solicitor) v London Borough of Harrow.  Having emailed the courtContinue reading “The ‘voice’ of P in a s.21A hearing: Reflecting on lost opportunities”

Court cannot rely on remote capacity assessment

By Celia Kitzinger, with Eleanor Tallon, 19 November 2023 Mrs King (a pseudonym) is the woman at the centre of this case. At 2pm, at the beginning of the hearing, she’s not in court.   “We’ll just have to patiently wait, I’m afraid”, says the judge – and we do.   It’s not until 2.30 that a carerContinue reading “Court cannot rely on remote capacity assessment”

Observing a Failed Re X hearing: “it sounds like ‘Cassie’ is being unlawfully deprived by contact restrictions”

By Eleanor Tallon, 31st October 2023 My previous blog post on ‘Failed Re X’ described the legal meaning of the term, and the processes whereby these cases get to court.  This blog post follows up on that by reporting on a ‘Failed Re X’ hearing (COP 13266959) I observed on 9th October 2023 before District Judge Hart, sittingContinue reading “Observing a Failed Re X hearing: “it sounds like ‘Cassie’ is being unlawfully deprived by contact restrictions””

Another case of s.21A delay (with a happy ending)

By John Harper, 27 October 2023 On Thursday 19 October 2023, I observed a remote hearing (COP 13627234) before Theis J, Vice President of the Court of Protection, sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice. An earlier hearing in the case was blogged here: “A s.21A challenge for a restricted patient: A ‘shocking’ delay”.   TheContinue reading “Another case of s.21A delay (with a happy ending)”

Tampering with equipment or failings in care? A fact-finding hearing (Part 2)

By Amanda Hill (Anna), Pippa Arnold, John Harper, Gail Heslop, Ellen Lefley, Celia Kitzinger, Claire Martin, Tess Saunders and Ann Wilson (co-ordinated and curated with an introduction by Celia Kitzinger), 25 October 2023 Introductory Editorial Note This is the second collective blog post about a fact-finding hearing before Mr Justice Hayden, observed (in part) by more than 30Continue reading “Tampering with equipment or failings in care? A fact-finding hearing (Part 2)”

A ‘good news story’: Kidney dialysis trial for 17-year-old with learning disabilities

By Avaia Williams, 22 October 2023 Sana, a 17-year-old girl, is at the centre of this case. She has Joubert Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that leads to abnormal brain development. In Sana’s case, unfortunately, this has also led to her suffering with Stage 5 kidney failure, and, without haemodialysis, Sana will die within aContinue reading “A ‘good news story’: Kidney dialysis trial for 17-year-old with learning disabilities”

‘Failed Re X’: Deprivation of liberty and Re X (the streamlined process) – a social work perspective

By Eleanor Tallon, 10th October 2023 The words “Failed Re X” has appeared in Court of Protection lists recently – like the two reproduced below.  ‘Re X’ is the term used to refer to the streamlined process through which the Court of Protection (CoP) can authorise a ‘Deprivation of Liberty’ (DoL), as established in theContinue reading “‘Failed Re X’: Deprivation of liberty and Re X (the streamlined process) – a social work perspective”

‘The horse has already bolted’: Transparency in a case of “brain-stem death”

By Celia Kitzinger, with Brian Farmer, 24 September 2023 On 9th July 2023, Andy Casey – then a healthy young man – was on a night out when he was assaulted in a pub garden.  He was punched on the right side of his head and fell to the ground, with catastrophic injury to his brain. AnContinue reading “‘The horse has already bolted’: Transparency in a case of “brain-stem death””

Access challenges in the Family Court: On not being allowed to watch the Indi Gregory hearing 

By Rhiannon Snaith, 20 September 2023 Indi Gregory is a six-month-old baby girl who has mitochondrial disease, a rare and incurable genetic condition that drains energy from the body’s cells. She also has a hole in her heart, and soon after her birth underwent operations on her bowel, and her brain to drain fluid.  DespiteContinue reading “Access challenges in the Family Court: On not being allowed to watch the Indi Gregory hearing “

Who cares for P? “Pragmatic harmony” finally breaks out in court

By Hartej Singh Saund-Matharu, 19 September 2023 In my first observation of a Court of Protection (CoP) hearing – and first blog – I will take you through who I am and my interest in the Court of Protection, the background of the case my experience of the hearing, and my analysis/reflections of the outcomeContinue reading “Who cares for P? “Pragmatic harmony” finally breaks out in court”