Government backs Martha’s rule on right to second medical opinion in England – The Guardian

Posted September 14th, 2023 in children, doctors, hospitals, medical treatment, news, opinions by tracey

‘The health secretary, Steve Barclay, has announced the government is committed to bringing in “Martha’s rule” in England, making it easier for patients and their families to get a second medical opinion if they believe their concerns are not being taken seriously by medical staff.’

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The Guardian, 14th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Sister of roofer left in coma after pub fight accuses High Court of ‘playing god’ with his life – The Independent

Posted September 13th, 2023 in bereavement, doctors, families, medical treatment, news by tracey

‘The sister of a roofer on life support has begged doctors to give him more time after the family lost a High Court bid to keep him alive.’

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The Independent, 13th September 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Relatives of roofer on ventilator wait for ruling in treatment dispute – The Independent

Posted September 12th, 2023 in consent, families, hospitals, medical treatment, news by tracey

‘Relatives of a roofer who suffered a brain injury after being punched in the head are waiting for a High Court judge to rule in a life-support treatment dispute.’

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The Independent, 12th September 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Bristol Spire Hospital widens investigation into mesh surgeon – BBC News

Posted September 11th, 2023 in consent, doctors, hospitals, medical treatment, news by tracey

‘A hospital’s review of mesh operations by a surgeon who left dozens of patient in agony is now looking into another type of procedure he carried out.’

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BBC News, 11th September 2023

Source: www.bbc.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

‘Martha’s rule’: ministers consider law to give right to second medical opinion – The Guardian

Posted September 5th, 2023 in bills, children, doctors, hospitals, medical treatment, news, opinions by sally

‘Ministers are considering introducing Martha’s rule in England to make it easier for patients and their families who believe their concerns are not being taken seriously by medical staff to get a second medical opinion.’

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The Guardian, 4th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Doctor Knows Best – Supreme Court Clarifies “Professional Practice Test” – Parklane Plowden Chambers

‘On 12th July 2023, the Supreme Court handed down its judgment in McCulloch and Others v Forth Valley Health Board [2023] UKSC 26, the first Supreme Court decision on the issue of informed consent since Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board [2015] UKSC 11.’

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Parklane Plowden Chambers, 14th July 2023

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

Acupuncture and craniosacral therapy ads banned over long Covid treatment claims – The Independent

Posted August 30th, 2023 in advertising, coronavirus, medical treatment, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘The Advertising Standards Authority ruled that three ads misled consumers about the therapies’ efficacy in treating long Covid.’

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The Independent, 30th August 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Informed Consent: What is the test for reasonable alternative or variant treatments? – Gatehouse Chambers

Posted August 25th, 2023 in appeals, chambers articles, consent, medical treatment, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘The Supreme Court in Montgomery imposed (or perhaps clarified) a duty to ensure that any patient is aware of the material risks involved in any recommended treatment. They also extended the duty to obtain informed consent to informing the patient of “any reasonable alternative or variant treatments.”’

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Gatehouse Chambers, 7th July 2023

Source: gatehouselaw.co.uk

Autistic man should not be forced to have dialysis, judge rules – BBC News

Posted August 24th, 2023 in autism, consent, medical treatment, mental health, news by sally

‘An autistic man with “chronic” kidney disease should not be forced to undergo dialysis, despite the “potentially fatal consequence of not having it”, a judge has ruled.’

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BBC News, 23rd August 2023

Source: www.bbc.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

Fail to Plead, Fail to Succeed – Parklane Plowden Chambers

‘The case of Sindra Bilal & Anor v St George’s University NHS Foundation [2023] EWCA Civ 605 provides a useful reminder to ensure issues are pleaded if they are to be advanced at trial.’

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Parklane Plowden Chambers, 16th July 2023

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

Judge criticises approach of firm acting on hundreds of mesh claims – Legal Futures

Posted August 18th, 2023 in compensation, costs, law firms, medical treatment, news, personal injuries by sally

‘A law firm acting for hundreds of women who claim to have been harmed by vaginal mesh implant surgery has had its costs slashed by an unimpressed judge.’

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Legal Futures, 18th August 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lancashire woman died from brain tumour after surgery delay – BBC News

Posted August 10th, 2023 in cancer, delay, hospitals, medical treatment, news, ombudsmen, reports by tracey

‘A woman died from an operable brain tumour after doctors failed to properly monitor her scan results, a health watchdog has found.’

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BBC News, 10th August 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Consent and Factual Causation – Two Recent Cases – QMLR

‘Two cases from the past year illustrate the importance of factual causation as an issue in litigation concerning consent to treatment and provide various reminders on points of practice that will be of interest to those working in the field of clinical negligence.’

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QMLR, 18th July 2023

Source: 1corqmlr.com

McCulloch and others v Forth Valley Health Board [2023] UKSC 26 – Old Square Chambers

‘What is the correct legal test to be applied to the assessment as to whether an alternative treatment is reasonable and requires to be discussed with the patient?’

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Old Square Chambers, 18th July 2023

Source: oldsquare.co.uk

Court rejects appeal against NHS England over gender dysphoria treatment delays – The Guardian

Posted August 1st, 2023 in appeals, delay, medical treatment, news, transgender persons by sally

‘Campaigners have lost a court of appeal challenge against NHS England over waiting times for gender dysphoria treatment.’

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The Guardian, 31st July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

New Judgment: McCulloch and others (Appellants) v Forth Valley Health Board (Respondent) (Scotland) – UKSC Blog

Posted July 13th, 2023 in causation, medical treatment, medicines, negligence, news, Scotland, Supreme Court by sally

‘This case is concerned with the extent to which a doctor is required, under the duty of care owed to a patient, to inform the patient about alternative possible treatments to the one that is being recommended.’

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UKSC Blog, 12th July 2023

Source: ukscblog.com

Case Preview: McCulloch and Ors v Forth Valley Health Board – UKSC Blog

‘In this post, Anna Walsh (Partner) and Nicole Ellerby (Associate) in CMS’ defendant medical malpractice team consider the awaited decision from the Supreme Court in the Scottish case of McCulloch and Ors v Forth Valley Health Board [2021] CSIH 21.’

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UKSC Blog, 3rd July 2023

Source: ukscblog.com

Unpublished policy and unlawful detention: a case note on R (MXK) v Secretary of State for the Home Department – UK Human Rights Blog

‘In R (MXK) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2023] EWHC 1272 (Admin), the Administrative Court held that:
the repeated detention of the claimants – foreign nationals with limited leave to remain – when they returned to the UK from travelling abroad, so that they could be questioned about their NHS debts, was unlawful;
the policy pursuant to which the claimants were detained (the “Policy”) was unlawful because it contained a positive statement of law which was wrong or, alternatively, because it failed to provide a full account of the legal position;
the Policy was unlawful because it was unpublished; and
the Secretary of State for the Home Department (“SSHD”) was in breach of the public sector equality duty (“PSED”) under s.149 of the Equality Act 2010.

In reality, the facts carried the day. This was true not only in relation to the unlawful detention issue, but also on some other points – for example, the SSHD failed to evidence any public interest in not publishing the Policy or any consideration given to the equality impacts of the exercise of the relevant powers of detention. Insofar as there are lessons to be learned, they are likely to be found in the criticisms levelled at the evidence (or lack thereof) provided by the SSHD.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 29th June 2023

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com