Why this case matters: R (KM) v Cambridgeshire County Council – The Guardian
“The supreme court is about to hear another case that cuts to the heart of human dignity in care services.”
The Guardian, 2nd February 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Category: disabled persons
Man charged with ‘drink-driving’ mobility scooter is let off – The Guardian
“A man accused of drink-driving after being caught more than four times the alcohol limit while riding his mobility scooter has been let off because his vehicle was too small to be classed as a road vehicle.”
The Guardian, 19th January 2012
Source: www.guardian.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.’ ”
Daily Telegraph, 3rd January 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Harsher sentences for murderers of transgender and disabled people: a step in the right direction but greater reform is needed – Halsbury’s Law Exchange
“On hearing of the Ministry of Justice’s plan to raise the starting point for the minimum term in murder cases where victims are transgender or disabled, you would be forgiven for expressing surprise that there was an existing disparity. We pride ourselves on being alive to equality and here is a glaring and shameful example of imbalance to the detriment of a vulnerable minority.”
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 13th December 2011
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
Heather Mills’ chauffeur in disabled badge fraud – Daily Telegraph
“A former chauffeur to Heather Mills made an illegal copy of her disabled parking badge with her ‘full knowledge and consent’, a court has heard.”
Daily Telegraph, 9th December 2011
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Cardiff waterslide woman jailed for £20,000 benefit con – BBC News
“A woman who claimed nearly £20,000 in benefits intended for severely disabled people has been jailed after she was filmed going down a water slide.”
BBC News, 5th December 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Wiltshire ‘right to die’ man seeks High Court ruling – BBC News
“A severely disabled man from Wiltshire is to ask the High Court to allow a doctor to end his life.”
BBC News, 29th November 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Severely disabled man’s care plan not a deprivation of liberty – Court of Appeal – UK Human Rights Blog
“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.”
UK Human Rights Blog, 17th November 2011
Source: http://ukhumanrightsblog.com
New report on impact of legal aid cuts on disabled people – LAG News Blog
“LAG commissioned the disability charity Scope to research the impact of the proposed cuts in legal aid on benefits advice for disabled people. The report, Legal aid in welfare: the tool we can’t afford to lose, which is published today, demonstrates the serious consequences of the government’s proposals on disabled people and argues that taking benefits advice out of scope will undermine the government’s welfare reform programme.”
LAG News Blog, 14th November 2011
Cheshire West and Chester Council v P (by his litigation friend the Official Solicitor) – WLR Daily
“In determining whether or not there was a deprivation of liberty, it was legitimate to have regard both the objective ‘reason’ why someone was placed and treated as they were and also the objective ‘purpose’ or ‘aim’ of the placement. For adults with disabilities, whose lives were dictated by their own cognitive and other limitations, the question whether they had been deprived of liberty fell to be determined by comparing their situation with that of an adult of similar age with the same capabilities, affected by the same condition or suffering the same inherent mental and physical disabilities and limitations.”
WLR Daily, 9th November 2011
Source: www.iclr.co.uk
Courts step in to save vulnerable from cuts – The Independent
“Two disabled men who faced losing their right to care won a landmark High Court case yesterday over cost cutting by their council. It was the latest in a series of rulings that threatens to disrupt the Government’s attempts to slash local authority spending.”
The Independent, 12th November 2011
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Warning over legal aid cuts for disabled people – BBC News
“Ministers are being urged not to restrict legal aid for disabled people wanting to challenge benefit decisions.”
BBC News, 31st October 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Judge scrutinises ill man’s removal from foster home – The Independent
“A High Court judge has ordered a local authority to provide details about its decision to remove a man with severe medical difficulties from his former foster parents.”
The Independent, 21st October 2011
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Employer must not rely blindly on medical advisers when deciding if an employee is eligible for ill-health benefits, ombudsman says – OUT-LAW.com
“An employer cannot rely ‘blindly’ on its medical advisers when deciding if an employee is eligible for an ill-health early retirement pension, the pensions watchdog has said.”
OUT-LAW.com, 10th October 2011
Source: www.out-law.com
Woman’s plea for more access to disabled sister rejected by judge – The Independent
“A sister’s long and bitter battle to see more of her severely disabled sibling suffered a devastating blow yesterday when a judge ruled that a local authority-selected nursing home provided the best possible care.”
The Independent, 1st October 2011
Source: www.independent.co.uk
OFT uncovers ‘unfair’ mobility aid sales practices – The Guardian
“Evidence of unfair sales practices targeted at elderly and vulnerable consumers buying mobility aids has been uncovered by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), leading to an investigation into two nationwide traders.”
The Guardian, 29th September 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Cornwall care abuse victims get £8m compensation – BBC News
“Adults with learning disabilities at the centre of a care abuse case in Cornwall will receive about £8m in compensation.”
BBC News, 15th September 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Policeman used excessive force against disabled student protester, IPCC rules – The Guardian
“A police officer used ‘excessive force’ in dragging a protester in a wheelchair across a road and Scotland Yard was wrong not to recommend criminal charges against him, a police watchdog has concluded.”
The Guardian, 24th August 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
High Court challenge over Lancashire County Council cuts – BBC News
“Two disabled women are mounting a legal challenge over Lancashire County Council’s decision to cut care services.”
BBC News, 20th July 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
