Latest news with #forcefeeding
BBC News
08-08-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Anorexic woman can be force-feed by doctors, court rules
Doctors have been told they can force-feed an anorexic woman following a legal 2023, a court said 25-year-old Patricia, whose name has been changed for legal reasons, could not be forced to use a feeding a legal challenge by her family members, the the Court of Protection has now ruled treatment can be used "to save her life".Patricia, who weighs just three stone (19kg), is under the care of three different NHS bodies operating in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and, in a joint statement, they said they welcomed "the clarity" the ruling gave. The judgement said that Patricia, who is autistic, has suffered from anorexia nervosa since the age of 10.A court order made in 2023 ruled against force-feeding Patricia without her was challenged by her parents at the Court of Protection, which makes decisions for people who "lack mental capacity". 'Patricia's will to live remains strong' Mrs Justice Arbuthnot now ruled Patricia could now be force-fed regardless of whether she had personally given permission, as this was in her "best interests"."Having considered the balance of the imminent risk of death versus the harm which will be caused psychologically and emotionally... the balance is in favour of trying to save her life," she said."Patricia's will to live remains strong. She speaks about what she would like to do in her life, including travelling."Patricia did not want the order lifted, and was "traumatised" by the thought of having to be force-fed, arguing it was "torture", Mrs Justice Arbuthnot said. "What struck me was how wrong it was that a potential life-saving option, open to every other anorexic in the country, was not available to Patricia," she has been treated by doctors from Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust.A spokesperson on behalf of the three NHS bodies said Patricia's health and wellbeing remained their "priority"."We welcome the clarity this Court of Protection ruling provides and the court's thorough review of this complex case," they said. Details of support with eating disorders in the UK are available at BBC Action Line Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Mail
07-08-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Hospital allowed to force-feed anorexic woman who weighed as little as a five-year-old, Court of Protection rules in landmark judgement
Hospital staff have been told they can force-feed an anorexic woman by a High Court judge in a legal first. 'Patricia', 25, whose real name can't be used for legal reasons, developed the eating disorder when she was 11 and her weight has plummeted as low as three stone – the same as a five-year-old child. It has left her so weak she has been unable to walk unaided for the past two years. She has also developed osteoporosis and bedsores. Patricia has received treatment at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital but regularly refused to eat or accept other interventions to gain weight. The hospital, based in Norwich, rejected requests from her family to feed her via a nasograstric tube under restraint without her consent. Her parents and aunt challenged this decision at the Court of Protection in March, where Mrs Justice Arbuthnot has now ruled Patricia, who has autism, can be made to eat. It is the first eating disorder case in the court – which makes decisions for adults who lack the mental capacity to do so themselves - where it has reversed a previous order that prevented access to life-saving treatment. In 2023, Mr Justice Moor held that Patricia lacked the capacity to make medical treatment decisions but that it was not in her best interests to receive nasogastric feeding or other treatment against her will. Since then, her condition has worsened and she was 'on the brink of death' in March this year. Between that month and May, High Court judge Mrs Justice Arbuthnot, sitting as a judge of the Court of Protection, heard evidence over eight hearing days. Doughty Street Chambers barrister Oliver Lewis, representing Patricia's family, argued that her values and beliefs were nuanced and 'ought to be understood through the lenses of anorexia and autism'. In her judgement, the judge wrote: 'Having considered the balance of the immediate risk of death, versus the harm which will be caused psychologically and emotionally by the lifting of the orders, the balance is in favour of trying to save her life. 'The removal of the orders will allow the clinicians to work out what is best for Patricia, without the restrictions that currently prevent this.' The legal tussle began when Patricia – who was not aware of the proceedings – was mistakenly emailed details by a hospital worker. She then made repeated requests for the 2023 order to remain in place. During the hearings, consultant psychiatrist Dr Ali Ibrahim, on behalf of the family, acknowledged the psychological distress forced treatment could cause. But he provided the court with examples of people who turned a corner and were later grateful for life-saving treatment they resisted at the time. Mr Lewis argued the earlier judgement interpreted a patient's autonomy in a 'thin sense' and left clinicians wearing a 'metaphysically-loaded straightjacket'. The court also heard how, despite her condition, Patricia had repeatedly said she wanted to live and fulfil her dreams. In a text message to her aunt on February 28 this year, she wrote: 'I don't want to die…I want to go on holiday, I want to walk up mountains. 'I want to swim in the sea. I want cuddles and kisses. I want to party and have fun… please help me more.' In a 2022 email to her psychiatrist, following a short period of nasograstic feeding, she said: 'I'm feeling so, so positive about things moving forward… I don't know why on earth I didn't have the NG when I first came in!' Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust were all taken to the court by Patricia's parents over their 'unconscionable' stance towards her care. The NHS organisations argued that force-feeding Patricia would be futile - although this goes against NHS guidelines that state anorexia is not a terminal illness and should be treated. Katie Gallop KC, representing NNUH, said her client had been put in a 'very difficult' position and it would be 'unethical' to feed Patricia until a specialist eating disorder unit was available to move her to afterwards. CPFT counsel Sophia Roper KC added it was 'tempting' to 'do whatever it takes to keep her alive' but it didn't follow it was the right thing to do. In her ruling last week, Mrs Justice Arbithnot acknowledged Patricia's concerns that being force-fed would be 'torture' but said the position of the previous judge had failed. She added: 'What struck me was how wrong it was that a potential life-saving option, open to every other anorexic in the country, was not available to Patricia. 'The orders in 2023 had been shown to have failed. Without a change to the orders, there was no doubt that Patricia would die. Patricia's will to live remains strong.' Speaking after the ruling, her parents said they were now waiting for a bed to become available in a specialist eating disorders unit so she can 'get the treatment for anorexia she desperately needs'. Chelsea Roff, executive director of eating disorder charity Eat Breathe Thrive, added: 'At the heart of this case is a young woman who has lived with a severe illness for many years, who is dearly loved by those around her, and who deserves treatment and care. 'This judgment will give hope to the many families who are still fighting for loved ones, and the many people with eating disorders who are still here, fighting for the treatment they need and deserve.' A spokesman for the three NHS organisations they welcome 'the clarity this Court of Protection ruling provides'.
