Specialist judge allows doctors to perform caesarean section on mentally ill woman

A judge specialist allowed doctors to perform a caesarean section against the wishes of a mentally ill pregnant woman. Justice Hayden gave the physicians permission to conduct such operation to deliver a baby of a 21-year old woman detained under mental health law.

Mirror reported that a woman who was diagnosed with drug-related psychosis wanted the doctors to have her undergo natural delivery. Justice Hayden said that she wanted a natural birth and had complained that the physicians were being 'cut happy.' However, Judge Hayden ruled the caesarean could be performed if the doctors thought it is for the good of the mother and the child.

After analyzing the evidence at a hearing in the Court of Protection, where cases that are related to sick and vulnerable people are evaluated, the judge then made the ruling. The judge heard the evidence from the mother and the doctors who performed that caesarean. He also reviewed the documents submitted by lawyers representing the mother and the health Trust. The Guardian said that the judge described his decision as enormous. The judge added that the 21-year old woman did not have the mental capacity to make decisions about the treatment and litigate.

The specialists also said that the woman could be violent and her behavior might put her, the medical team, and the baby at risk. Judge Hayden said at the two health trust, the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust and the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, that the bosses of these agencies had responsibility for the woman's care. Moreover, the judge said that these trusts had asked for ruling on what treatment would be best for the woman as reported by Breaking News.

It was difficult for the judge to 'micro-manage' the operation and so he gave doctors the power to make decisions. Meanwhile, the family court judge is expected to make decisions about the future of the baby.

Tags

specialist judge, caesarean, section mentally ill woman, childbirth, West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

© 2023 Lawyer Herald All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.