Met police restraint contributed to death of mentally ill man, jury finds – The Guardian

‘The police’s inappropriate use of restraints on a mentally ill man contributed to his death, an inquest jury has found.’

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The Guardian, 9th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Philip Tarver jailed for decapitating mum – BBC News

‘A man who decapitated his mother before putting her head in a freezer has been jailed.’

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BBC News, 8th October 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The Court of Protection, s.48 and interim orders – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 2nd, 2020 in care homes, consent, Court of Protection, local government, mental health, news by tracey

‘Lee Parkhill analyses an important Court of Protection ruling on s. 48 of the Mental Capacity Act and interim orders.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 2nd October 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Disabled lawyers “benefit from homeworking during pandemic” – Legal Futures

‘The suspension of office working under lockdown has helped improve the mental and physical health of disabled lawyers, research has indicated.’

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Legal Futures, 2nd October 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Man, 41, loses ‘unprecedented’ legal bid for parents’ financial support – BBC News

Posted October 1st, 2020 in disabled persons, families, financial provision, mental health, news by sally

‘A 41-year-old man has failed in a legal bid to force his wealthy parents to continue financially supporting him.’

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BBC News, 30th September 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Report raises alarm over police detention of vulnerable suspects in England and Wales – The Guardian

‘Police officers detained and interviewed hundreds of thousands of vulnerable suspects last year in England and Wales in breach of mandatory safeguards, according to the body that sets standards for those who support vulnerable adults in police custody.’

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The Guardian, 28th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Vulnerable people left without access to solicitors during Covid – Legal Futures

‘Some of the most vulnerable people have been left isolated and without proper access to solicitors because of the official response to the Covid-19 crisis, according to a report from the Law Society.’

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Legal Futures, 25th September 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Gaia Pope death: Family wants answers to ‘vital questions’ – BBC News

Posted September 16th, 2020 in bereavement, coroners, delay, evidence, families, inquests, mental health, news, police, rape, sexual offences by michael

‘The family of a teenager found dead 11 days after going missing nearly three years ago said “vital questions” about her death remain unanswered.’

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BBC News, 16th September 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Transitioning back to chambers – Counsel

Posted September 8th, 2020 in barristers, barristers' clerks, coronavirus, mental health, news, pupillage by sally

‘As chambers begin to repopulate amid continuing uncertainties, wellbeing policies are more important now than ever. Dr Anna Colton and Lucy Burrows explain how to spot signs of anxiety and protect members, pupils and staff.’

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Counsel, September 2020

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Scientist jailed for sending fake poison to Theresa May – BBC News

‘A scientist has been jailed for sending fake poison to Theresa May in a letter criticising her policy on Russia.’

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BBC News, 3rd September 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Force feeding not in anorexia patient’s best interests – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted August 27th, 2020 in consent, Court of Protection, hospitals, medical treatment, mental health, news by sally

‘In this carefully nuanced judgment, the Court of Protection has ruled that although a patient with a chronic eating disorder would in all probability face death she did not gain weight, it would not be in her best interests to continue being subjected to forced feeding inpatient regimes.’

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UK Human Rights, 26th August 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Mother wins appeal over request for French court to assume jurisdiction of care case – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal by a mother against an order secured during care proceedings by an unnamed local authority to request a French family court to assume jurisdiction of a case involving her son’s care under Article 15 of Council Regulation (EC) 2201/2003.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th August 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Is it an error of law to consider the requirements of s6 EQA in a sequential order? No, says the EAT in Khorochilova v Euro Rep Ltd UKEAT/0266/19/DA – 3PB

‘Following her summary dismissal for gross misconduct, the Claimant brought various claims against her former employer, including a claim of disability discrimination. A preliminary hearing was listed in July 2017 to determine whether she was disabled at the material time. The Claimant identified her disability as ‘Mixed Personality Disorder’, which she said, made her ‘somewhat obsessive’ and a bit of a ‘perfectionist’. She relied upon a report prepared by a Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Schuff, which had been prepared at some point in 2010. Dr Schuff declined to diagnose the Claimant as having a multiple personality disorder but described her as suffering with ‘problematic personality traits’. There was no reference to mixed personality disorder within the Claimant’s GP records until after she was dismissed.’

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3PB, 3rd August 2020

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

Caroline Flack took her own life amid fears of prosecution, inquest rules – The Guardian

‘Caroline Flack took her own life after learning she would be prosecuted for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend, following a long struggle with “fluctuating mental health” that was exacerbated by the stress of fame, a coroner has found.’

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The Guardian, 6th August 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

British trafficking victim sues Priti Patel alleging abuse of personal data – The Guardian

‘A British victim of trafficking is bringing a case against the home secretary, Priti Patel, arguing that her department unlawfully accessed personal information including details of her intimate thoughts.’

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The Guardian, 30th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judicial Authorisation of Deprivation of Liberty – 39 Essex Chambers

‘With the delay to the introduction of the Liberty Protection Safeguards until April 2022, and unless the Mental Health Act 1983 is applicable, there is no administrative mechanism available to authorise the deprivation of liberty for a person with impaired decision-making capacity who is either (1) outside a hospital or care home; or (2) is in a hospital or care home or is aged 16 or 17. This means that, unless a court authorises the position, those people caring for the person have no legal “cover” for their actions, and (where relevant) the public body commissioning care or aware of the person’s circumstances will also be acting unlawfully.’

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39 Essex Chambers, July 2020

Source: 1f2ca7mxjow42e65q49871m1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com

DWP to increase support for vulnerable claimants after series of suicides – The Guardian

‘The Department for Work and Pensions is to overhaul its safeguarding systems following a series of high-profile failures in which mentally ill claimants took their own lives after having their benefits cut off by welfare officials.’

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The Guardian, 22nd July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Clearer guidelines issued in UK for sentencing offenders with mental health disorders – The Guardian

‘Clearer guidelines have been published for courts sentencing offenders who have schizophrenia, depression or other mental disorders.’

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The Guardian, 22nd July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Parents of student who killed herself launch legal action against University of Bristol – The Guardian

‘The parents of a student with severe social anxiety who took her own life on the day she was scheduled to face “the ordeal” of an important oral test have launched legal proceedings against her university, claiming she was the victim of negligence and disability discrimination.’

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The Guardian, 20th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Parents of man who died after police restraint challenge delay over Seni’s law – The Guardian

‘The parents of a young black man who died after being restrained in a mental health hospital are asking why a law passed in his name almost two years ago has not yet been enacted by the government.’

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The Guardian,, 20th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com