Giving P “one more roll of the dice”

By Claire Martin, 20 July 2023 This case (COP 1381929T, 17th July 2023) is about whether Mr B can move back to his own home, with or without his wife, Mrs B. They live together in a care home at the moment.  I received the link for this hearing – as well as the Transparency Order!Continue reading “Giving P “one more roll of the dice””

Very like London buses – several ‘property and affairs’ hearings all at once

By Georgina Baidoun, 16 July 2023 I have become lazy about looking for hearings in my area of interest, which is property and affairs and particularly Court of Protection deputy issues, because there are so few listed and those few tend increasingly to be held in person or to be vacated/cancelled. The advent of good weatherContinue reading “Very like London buses – several ‘property and affairs’ hearings all at once”

Cancer investigations – with restraint authorised if required

By Celia Kitzinger, 16 July 2023 Mr D is in his fifties, and he’s currently in a psychiatric hospital, with a longstanding diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia and a suspected mild learning disability.   He’s lost a lot of weight recently, and blood tests show a range of inflammatory markers indicative of potential cancer. Doctors say heContinue reading “Cancer investigations – with restraint authorised if required”

Covert medication, the ‘causative nexus’ and (yet again) issues with the Transparency Order

By Daniel Clark, 14 July 2023 A man in his 60s, living with an acquired brain injury is refusing medication for the management of his diabetes.  The applicant local authority has applied to the court for the approval of a covert medication plan. In the previous hearing (which I blogged about here), Theis J had requestedContinue reading “Covert medication, the ‘causative nexus’ and (yet again) issues with the Transparency Order”

Restricting family contact, and family ‘abuse’ of staff: An adversarial Court of Protection hearing

By Claire Martin, 11th July 2023 One of the most draconian decisions the Court of Protection can make is to restrict contact between people who love each other and want to be together.  That was the issue in this hearing.   The Health Board was seeking urgent court authorisation for an extension to an order restricting contactContinue reading “Restricting family contact, and family ‘abuse’ of staff: An adversarial Court of Protection hearing”

Removing P to another country to evade the orders of the Court

By Celia Kitzinger, 9th July 2023 If you believe the authorities are acting against the best interests of your vulnerable relative, you might contemplate escaping with them to another country, in the hope of taking the person outside the reach of the Court of Protection.  I often hear conversations about this.   For most people it isn’t reallyContinue reading “Removing P to another country to evade the orders of the Court”

Gagged – in whose best interests?

By Amanda Hill, formerly ‘Anna‘, 7 July 2023 “How did the court case with your mum go?” “OK but I’m not allowed to tell you about it or I could be held in contempt of court and have my assets seized” This was a conversation I had with a cousin during a family reunion lastContinue reading “Gagged – in whose best interests?”

Overcoming the challenges of observing my first remote hearing in the Court of Protection

By Peter C Bell, 6th July 2023 I am a (mature!) law student at the Open University, studying part-time for an LLB Law (Hons), and have just completed my second year (results of last End of Module Assessment eagerly awaited). I have a long-standing interest in Open Justice, having observed or participated in hearings inContinue reading “Overcoming the challenges of observing my first remote hearing in the Court of Protection”

‘What God has put together, let no man put asunder’: A s.21A challenge and the limits of Power of Attorney

By Celia Kitzinger, 3rd July 2023 The words “What God has put together, let no man put asunder” are from the Bible (Matthew 19:6). It means that marriage is a holy thing and humans should not break a marriage apart.   The deeply religious man who uttered these words in court was powerfully expressing his dismayContinue reading “‘What God has put together, let no man put asunder’: A s.21A challenge and the limits of Power of Attorney”

An ‘impasse’ on face-to-face contact between mother and daughter

By Celia Kitzinger, 25 June 2023 This is a tragic and seemingly intractable case. A mother and daughter love each other and want to be together.  The daughter, FP, is deprived of her liberty in a residential nursing home.  The placement is some distance away from where her mother lives with her husband (FP’s stepfather) –Continue reading “An ‘impasse’ on face-to-face contact between mother and daughter”