Family tragedy and institutional delay in best interests decisions about life-prolonging treatment

Kitzinger, Celia and Kitzinger, Jenny 2024. Family tragedy and institutional delay in best interests decisions about life-prolonging treatment. [Online]. Open Justice Court of Protection. Available at: https://openjusticecourtofprotection.org/2024/04/0...

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Abstract

An analysis of a court case about life-prolonging treatment for a patient in a Prolonged Disorder of Consciousness. The first part of the paper (“I. Best interests and delay”) is largely based on the documentation received from the court, it should provide a useful summary of the case as it stands at present – and since the case will be back in court in late April 2024, it will provide useful background reading for anyone wanting to observe that hearing. The second part (“II. The hearing”) deals with what actually happened in court on the day. It gives a sense of the challenges faced by observers, and also of the kinds of procedural issues the court has to deal with in addition (and prior) to hearing substantive weighty moral and legal end-of-life issues. For non-lawyers, we hope it conveys a sense of what lawyers spend a lot of time doing – arguing about reporting restrictions, searching for colleagues willing to act pro bono, and arguing for or against adjournments – all the messy business of law-in-action.

Item Type:	Website Content
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Journalism, Media and Culture
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Publisher:	Open Justice Court of Protection
Date of Acceptance:	April 2024
Last Modified:	03 Mar 2025 13:10
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/168022

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