‘Two Ps’ – navigating two sets of best interests – Mental Capacity Law and Policy

Posted October 18th, 2023 in Court of Protection, local government, married persons, news by sally

‘In HH v Hywel Dda University Health Board & Ors [2023] EWCOP 18, Francis J gave a clear and detailed analysis of how the Court of Protection should proceed in a “two P” situation: i.e a situation where two individuals both appear to lack the capacity to make the relevant decisions, and where those decisions are interconnected. In HH’s case, the individuals concerned were husband, AH, and wife, HH. For reasons that are very relevant to the husband and wife, but not relevant for the wider point, both were the subject of separate s.21A MCA 2005 proceedings. The question was whether they could (or should) be either consolidated or heard together by the same judge, a question which regularly arises, but which has not been the subject of a reported case.’

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Mental Capacity Law and Policy, 17th October 2023

Source: www.mentalcapacitylawandpolicy.org.uk

Public Law Newsletter: Sept 23 – Spire Barristers

‘Public Law Newsletter September 2023; covering news from around the web, practice updates and case updates within Court of Protection and Public Law matters.’

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Spire Barristers, 12th September 2023

Source: www.spirebarristers.co.uk

Appeals from personal welfare decisions – the Court of Appeal allocates the costs – Mental Capacity Law and Policy

Posted October 17th, 2023 in appeals, consent, costs, Court of Protection, elderly, medical treatment, news by sally

‘In Re VA (Medical Treatment) [2023] EWCA Civ 1190, the Court of Appeal considered an appeal by a litigant in person (on her behalf, and on behalf of other family members) from a decision[1] of Hayden J relating to her mother, a 78 year old woman identified as VA. Hayden J had declared that VA lacked capacity to conduct proceedings or consent to medical treatment including extubation and associated treatment and care. The order further provided that, pursuant to s.16 MCA 2005, it was in VA’s best interests, and the court consented on her behalf, to undergo extubation and the provision of palliative care in accordance with a care and treatment plan prepared by the treating team at the hospital where she was being looked after. The order was made some seven weeks after Morgan J endorsed a consent order that a tracheostomy and insertion of a PEG was in VA’s best interests, but in circumstances where very shortly afterwards the woman’s daughter, VK, sought to challenge the position.’

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Mental Capacity Law and Policy, 15th October 2023

Source: www.mentalcapacitylawandpolicy.org.uk

Judge lets anorexic woman choose death – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 6th, 2023 in Court of Protection, families, food, medical treatment, mental health, news by michael

‘A 24-year-old woman with anorexia has been allowed to choose to die by a judge despite “lacking capacity to take decisions concerning her medical treatment”.’

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Daily Telegraph, 5th October 2023

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Forced marriage and the inherent jurisdiction – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Court of Appeal recently considered the use of the inherent jurisdiction in a forced marriage case. Rhys Hadden analyses the ruling.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 15th September 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Dialysis and different realities – the Court of Protection has to decide – Local Government Lawyer

‘In a recent ruling a senior judge has helpfully reminded us of the fact that a person with cognitive impairments may be operating within a very different reality to everyone else does not mean that it is a reality which can simply be ignored, writes Alex Ruck Keene KC (Hon).’

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Local Government Lawyer, 8th September 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Doctors can stop treating man who suffered brain damage in car crash – judge – The Independent

Posted August 24th, 2023 in Court of Protection, hospitals, medical treatment, news by sally

‘Doctors can lawfully stop providing life-support treatment to a father-of-two who suffered “catastrophic” brain damage in a car accident early this year, a judge has ruled.’

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The Independent, 23rd August 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Contempt of court – yet more confusion and inconsistency over naming of guilty party – Transparency Project

‘This case has also revealed inconsistencies within and between a key practice direction and recently updated rules of court, and differences of approach between senior High Court judges. In these circumstances, it seems difficult to expect ordinary mortals to follow and understand the law, the key purpose of which is to prevent criminal penalties (including imprisonment) being imposed against someone in secret. It is particularly difficult because, as we discovered, the relevant rules and practice directions are not at all easy to find.’

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Transparency Project, 1st August 2023

Source: transparencyproject.org.uk

Public Law Newsletter – Spire Barristers

‘Public Law Newsletter July 2023; covering news from around the web, practice updates and case updates within Court of Protection and Public Law matters.’

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Spire Barristers, 27th July 2023

Source: www.spirebarristers.co.uk

Hospital discharge and subsequent placement should be considered as separate matters when determining capacity: CoP – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Court of Protection has allowed an appeal against a decision that a woman lacked capacity to consent to discharge from hospital and to be placed in specified accommodation, saying that the discharge and placement offer should have been treated as separate matters.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 11th July 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

New how-to guide to help families access trust funds of disabled young adults – Ministry of Justice

‘Parents who care for disabled young people will be better supported to access vital savings – including Child Trust Funds – thanks to the launch of a new easy-to-use guide.’

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Ministry of Justice, 9th June 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Carrying Out and Recording Capacity Assessments – 39 Essex Chambers

Posted April 11th, 2023 in chambers articles, Court of Protection, elderly, mental health, news by sally

‘This purpose of this document is to provide for social workers and those working in front-line clinical settings an overview of the law and principles relating to the assessment of capacity. Its focus is on (a) how to apply the MCA 2005 principles when assessing capacity; and (b) how to record your assessment, primarily in the context of health and welfare decisions.’

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39 Essex Chambers, 9th March 2023

Source: www.39essex.com

Assessing capacity: the principles – Local Government Lawyer

‘Alex Ruck Keene KC (Hon) reports on a capacity masterclass from MacDonald J in the Court of Protection, and highlights an updated capacity guide from 39 Essex Chambers.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 17th March 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Court of Protection issues guidance on ‘closed hearings’ and ‘closed material’ – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Vice President of the Court of Protection has issued guidance on Court of Protection ‘closed hearings’ and ‘closed material’.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 9th February 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Court of Protection judge gives suspended jail sentence to mother of P – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Court of Protection has sentenced a woman to 28 days in jail for contempt, but suspended the sentence for a year on condition she does not engage in any further contempts.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 26th January 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Woman with diabetes and subject to deprivation of liberty in care placement to be allowed home, judge rules – Local Government Lawyer

‘A Court of Protection judge has ruled that a woman with type 1 diabetes and mental health issues can go home, after being deprived of her liberty in a specialist facility which she expressed she “hated” being in.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 9th January 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Man with history of sex offending has capacity to make decisions in relation to care and support arrangements, Court of Protection judge rules – Local Government Lawyer

‘A Court of Protection judge has ruled that a young man with a history of sex offending will no longer be subject to a Deprivation of Liberty Authorisation.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 19th December 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Sex offender who poses risk is able to make own decisions about care – judge – The Independent

‘A convicted child sex offender who “poses a risk” has the mental capacity to make decisions about his care and support, a judge has decided after a hearing in a specialist court.’

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The Independent, 14th December 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Removal of gametes from brain dead man would breach his rights to privacy: Court of Protection – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted November 25th, 2022 in consent, Court of Protection, families, human rights, news, privacy by tracey

‘The 22 year old patient in this case, X, was unconscious in intensive care during the course of this hearing, following a serious stroke. There was virtually no prospect that he would recover. This urgent application by X’s parents, out of hours, before Poole J was for a declaration that it would be lawful for a doctor to retrieve X’s sperm for storage after his death. The applicants also sought an order that X’s father V could sign the relevant consents under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (“The 1990 Act”). The applicants did not seek any orders in respect of the use of X’s sperm once collected and stored. That was for another day.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 24th November 2022

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Judge blocks parents’ bid to use dying son’s sperm to father a child – The Independent

Posted November 18th, 2022 in children, Court of Protection, families, news by tracey

‘The parents of a dying man have failed in their court bid to collect and store his sperm to allow his girlfriend to have his child.’

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The Independent, 17th November 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk