University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust v Thirumalesh, decd

Subject Matter

MENTAL CAPACITY — Court of Protection — Capacity to make decisions — Adult patient suffering from chronic degenerative disease with no known cure — Treating clinicians recommending move to palliative care — Patient refusing to accept prognosis and wishing to explore experimental treatments overseas — NHS Foundation Trust seeking declaration patient lacking capacity to make decisions about treatment — Whether lack of “belief” in medical diagnosis and prognosis inevitably leading to conclusion patient lacking capacity to make decisions as to medical treatment — Whether patient lacking capacity — Mental Capacity Act 2005 (c 9), s 3

[2023] EWCOP 40, Ct of Protection

[2024] EWCA Civ 896; [2025] Fam 25; [2025] 2 WLR 19; [2025] 1 All ER 1119; [2024] WLR(D) 362, CA

PRACTICE — Family proceedings — Anonymity

[2023] EWCOP 43, Ct of Protection

MENTAL CAPACITY — Capacity to make decisions — Medical treatment — Treating clinicians considering adult patient terminally ill and recommending move to palliative care — Patient refusing to believe clinicians’ prognosis — Whether patient lacking capacity to make decisions as to medical treatment — Whether lack of belief in medical consensus inevitably leading to conclusion patient unable to “understand” and/or “use or weigh” information relevant to decisions — Mental Capacity Act 2005 (c 9), ss 2, 3

[2024] EWCA Civ 896; [2025] Fam 25; [2025] 2 WLR 19; [2025] 1 All ER 1119; [2024] WLR(D) 362, CA

Appellate History

Commentary

Church Times
Opinion: Dying woman denied last hope Case comment

State must protect, not cast aside Case comment