Down’s syndrome patient challenges resuscitation order – BBC News

“A man with Down’s syndrome is suing an NHS trust over a hospital’s decision to issue a do-not-resuscitate order giving his disability as one of the reasons.”

Full story

BBC News, 13th September 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK judge says ‘forced marriage’ of disabled woman should be annulled – BBC News

Posted August 17th, 2012 in disabled persons, forced marriages, learning difficulties, news by sally

“A judge has said the arranged marriage of a UK woman of Bangladeshi origin, who is disabled and has severe learning difficulties, should be annulled.”

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BBC News, 16th August 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Forced marriage advice to help victims with learning disabilities – BBC News

Posted August 1st, 2012 in consent, forced marriages, learning difficulties, local government, news by sally

“Fifty English councils are bringing in policies to tackle the rise in the number of people with learning disabilities entering forced marriages.”

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BBC News, 1st August 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Matthew Wright show cleared over disability ‘slur’ – The Guardian

Posted July 9th, 2012 in complaints, disabled persons, learning difficulties, media, news, ombudsmen by sally

“Matthew Wright’s Channel 5 daytime show has been told it did not break any broadcasting regulations, despite running a survey that used the words ‘mong’, ‘spaz’ and ‘retard’.”

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The Guardian, 9th July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Defendants with learning difficulties ‘need help to get fair trial’ – The Guardian

Posted June 28th, 2012 in learning difficulties, news, reports, trials by sally

“Greater support needs to be given to vulnerable defendants in order for them to get a fair trial, particularly those with learning difficulties who may have problems understanding the process, a report by the Prison Reform Trust (PRT) has warned.”

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The Guardian, 28th June 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Are you fit for “fitness to plead”? – One Inner Temple Lane

Posted May 8th, 2012 in fitness to plead, learning difficulties, mental health, news by sally

“The concept of ‘fitness to plead’ is often a source of confusion. It is not solely a consideration of whether the defendant is actually capable of being arraigned on the indictment. The question to be addressed is whether a defendant is fit to enter a plea and stand trial. A person may have sufficient capacity to deny the allegation that is made and yet be unable to undergo the entire trial process. The defence should not overlook the possible benefits, where properly available, to a defendant of a finding of unfitness to plead. Where the issue of fitness to plead is raised it must be determined by a Judge. The defendant ought not to be arraigned before this issue is determined. If a defendant is found unfit to plead there is a further hearing before a jury to determine whether or not he did the act or acts alleged. If unsure, the defendant will be acquitted and so he will have the advantage of challenging the Crown’s evidence. If the finding is adverse to the defendant then the Judge has the power to make a hospital order (with or without restriction), a supervision order or an absolute discharge. The defendant can be diverted from the prison system in this way.”

Full story

One Inner Temple Lane, 1st May 2012

Source: www.1itl.com

Less than half of hospitals and care homes for people with learning disabilities meet national standards – The Independent

Posted March 1st, 2012 in care homes, hospitals, learning difficulties, news by tracey

“Three out of five hospitals and care homes for people with learning disabilities do not meet national standards for safety and quality, according to a series of unannounced inspections. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) today published its latest batch of inspection reports which examine whether people in NHS and privately-run homes are being safely and appropriately cared for, and protected from abuses.”

Full story

The Independent, 1st March 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

 

Autistic woman banned from having sex in latest Court of Protection case – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 6th, 2012 in autism, Court of Protection, learning difficulties, news by sally

“A senior judge has effectively banned a vulnerable young woman from having sex on the grounds that she does not understand the risks involved.”

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Daily Telegraph, 3rd February 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Disabled patients dying due to ‘institutional discrimination’ in NHS – Daily Telegraph

“More than 70 disabled patients have died because of mistakes by hospital staff in the past decade, it was claimed. Mencap, a disability charity, described the findings in its report as damning, adding that as a result of ‘institutional discrimination in the NHS’ people were needlessly dying.’ ”

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Daily Telegraph, 3rd January 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Minister warns of ‘institutionalised abuse’ in learning disability homes – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 9th, 2011 in care homes, care workers, learning difficulties, news by tracey

“Ministers have warned of the risk of ‘institutionalised abuse’ in care homes and hospitals for people with learning disabilities, as five recent inspections showed four were breaking the law.”

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Daily Telegraph, 9th December 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Severely disabled man’s care plan not a deprivation of liberty – Court of Appeal – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted November 17th, 2011 in disabled persons, freedom of movement, human rights, learning difficulties, news by tracey

“When assessing whether a patient’s care deprives him or her of their liberty, and thereby entitles them to the procedural protections under Article 5 (4) ECHR, the right to liberty, the Court of Appeal has ruled that the appropriate comparator is an individual with the same disabilities and difficulties who is not in care. The court also provided useful general guidance for deprivation of liberty cases.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 17th November 2011

Source: http://ukhumanrightsblog.com

Down’s Syndrome daughter ‘should stay in school until she’s 25’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 25th, 2011 in appeals, education, learning difficulties, news, special educational needs by sally

“The father of a Down’s Syndrome woman is attempting to force a council to let her stay in school until 25, in a case which could see thousands of special needs adults taught alongside children.”

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Daily Telegraph, 24th October 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Barber secretly shaved ‘fool’ on back of man’s head, court told – The Guardian

Posted October 17th, 2011 in assault, bail, learning difficulties, news by sally

“A barber shaved the word ‘fool’ in 1in letters on the back of the head of a man with severe learning difficulties, a court has been told.”

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The Guardian, 14th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Vulnerable witnesses in the administration of criminal justice – Speech by The Lord Judge, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales

Posted September 30th, 2011 in children, criminal justice, learning difficulties, speeches, witnesses by tracey

“Vulnerable witnesses in the administration of criminal justice – speech by The Lord Judge, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, 29/09/2011.”

Full speech

Judiciary of England and Wales, 29th September 2011

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Cornwall care abuse victims get £8m compensation – BBC News

Posted September 16th, 2011 in assault, compensation, disabled persons, hospitals, learning difficulties, news by tracey

“Adults with learning disabilities at the centre of a care abuse case in Cornwall will receive about £8m in compensation.”

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BBC News, 15th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police are failing people with learning disabilities, says study – The Guardian

“People with learning disabilities continue to be failed by police forces, with many neither properly investigating disability hate crimes or treating victims as credible witnesses, according to a report by Mencap.”

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The Guardian, 20th June 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Locking autistic man in padded room ruled illegal – The Independent

Posted June 17th, 2011 in autism, detention, human rights, learning difficulties, news by sally

“The Court of Protection has ruled that an 18-year-old man with autism and severe learning disabilities who was regularly placed in a padded seclusion room more than six times a day was unlawfully deprived of his liberty.”

Full story

The Independent, 17th June 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ministers to strengthen safeguards for adults in care – BBC News

Posted June 6th, 2011 in care homes, elderly, learning difficulties, news by tracey

“Vulnerable adults in care in England are to be given more protection from abuse, the government has said.”

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BBC News, 5th June 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

High Court to decide if autistic man was illegally detained – The Independent

“A father has described in court how he felt ‘powerless’ when a local authority prevented the return home of his autistic son for nearly a year during a bitter care dispute with a local council.”

Full story

The Independent, 28th May 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Judge raps care ‘failures’ in paedophile case – The Independent

“A High Court judge investigating a mother with learning difficulties whose children became victims of a dangerous paedophile has strongly condemned the way the case was handled by a county’s social services.”

Full story

The Independent, 21st April 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk