Leg amputation against wishes of patient found to be in her best interests: Michael Mylonas QC and Conrad Hallin appear for different parties
25th June 2016
After a three day emergency hearing last week, Mr Justice Bodey ordered that a 55 year old woman suffering from a delusional disorder should undergo emergency surgery to remove her grossly infected right leg. The woman, whose identity is protected by a Reporting Restriction Order, had been admitted after she fell but was refusing all treatment.
A team of doctors concluded that without the surgery she would probably die within the next few weeks as the infection spread throughout her body causing major organ failure. Surgery took place immediately after the hearing concluded last Friday and the patient was said to be recovering over the weekend. The Judge sat late during the week and also visited the patient in hospital to seek her views before taking a decision.
Michael Mylonas QC was instructed by Kiran Bhogal of Hill Dickinson for the hospital. Conrad Hallin represented the Official Solicitor acting on behalf of the woman
