Call for urgent inquiry after court ruled man could be left to die

Christian Concern is calling for an urgent inquiry after the Court of Protection ruled that a man who did not want to live with a stoma bag could be left to die. 

The campaign group said the last wishes of the 34-year-old, named only as MSP in court papers, had been to receive treatment to live, despite the man writing a declaration refusing consent for life-saving treatment. 

MSP was seriously ill with longstanding bowel problems and receiving treatment at Barnsley hospital. 

He wrote an 'Advance Directive' in February stating that he did not want to live with a stoma - a hole created in the stomach to allow the extraction of digestive waste - and had his temporary bag removed on May 14. 

Days later, he was rushed back to hospital with severe abdominal pain and sepsis.  Christian Concern says it was at this point, when faced with the prospect of dying, that MSP changed his mind and agreed to have a stoma fitted during major surgery. 

Following the surgery, MSP was sedated and placed in intensive care, with doctors saying he had a good chance of survival but would need a permanent stoma.

Barnsley hospital then made an urgent application to Mr Justice Hayden to determine whether that course of treatment was in MSP's best interests.

After hearing evidence at a virtual sitting of the Court of Protection, Justice Hayden determined that MSP had the right to refuse life-saving treatment.  According to the Daily Mail, MSP has now died after life support treatment was withdrawn.

Christian Concern argues that the man's last wishes should have dictated the hospital's course of action and that MSP's Advance Directive was legally invalid because it was "not properly executed or witnessed". 

Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern, said: "This case has come to the public's attention and on the face of the judgment serious questions are raised and need to be answered.

"When matters of life and death are at stake the system has to be transparent and subject to proper scrutiny." 

She continued: "It cannot be right that the law can give a judge absolute power to seemingly enforce his own ideas of whether it is in a patient's best interest to live or die.

"This is made even worse when it is up to the same judge to say whether the patient lacks capacity to decide for himself. Taken together, this amounts to an unlimited power over anyone's life and death. This is compounded by the secretiveness of the Court of Protection and Family Division proceedings."

50% OFF
JOYUSING Flip600S 4K Webcam for PC with Tripod - High-Def Clarity
$19.99 $39.99
50% OFF
Hawaiian Floral Summer Porch Goose Outfit with Wind-Resistant Sun Hat
$9.99 $19.99
24% OFF
MUCAR 892BT AI-Assisted Bidirectional OBD2 Scan Tool with ECU Coding (8" Touchscreen)
$478.79 $629.99
77% OFF
NOVETE Smart Countertop Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System with UV & Cooling (CRF0A-Qi)
$99.99 $429.99
36% OFF
G Gradual Men's Quick Dry Athletic Running Shorts with Zipper Pockets
$12.74 $19.99
17% OFF
X-Sense 10-Year Sealed Battery Combination Smoke and CO Detector (6-Pack, SC06-W)
$225.21 $269.99
50% OFF
18K Gold Plated Initial Pendant Necklace with Reinforced Box Chain
$6.49 $12.99
50% OFF
6-Inch Desktop Pottery Wheel Kit for Beginners with 2.2lb Air Dry Clay
$44.99 $89.98
50% OFF
Portable Folding LED Book Light Night Lamp with Floral Print Cover
$11.99 $23.99
26% OFF
Magnelex American Flag Windshield Sun Shade - High-Resolution UV Reflective Heat Shield (X-Large)
$19.9 $26.9
50% OFF
TailSphere 12-in-1 Turkey Tail Mushroom Immune Support Chews for Dogs (90 Count)
$13.49 $26.99
50% OFF
Aegend Kids Swim Goggles for Toddlers 3-8 with Anti-Fog and No-Hair-Pull Strap
$4.49 $8.99
73% OFF
Smart Bluetooth Body Fat Scale with LED Display and Body Composition Analyzer
$21.58 $79.96
73% OFF
COSLUS C20 Portable Cordless Water Dental Flosser and Oral Irrigator
$7.99 $29.99
29% OFF
Pleco SK01 Solar Powered Robotic Pool Skimmer with App Control (Obsidian & Ivory)
$284.99 $399.99
52% OFF
Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner C1 with Wall Climbing and App Control (Glossy Black)
$290.69 $599.99
52% OFF
NEWFAST Outdoor WiFi Extender with MU-MIMO and 3 Gigabit Ports (IP66)
$47.99 $99.99
51% OFF
NEWFAST AXE5400 Tri-Band USB WiFi 6E Adapter with 4 Antennas (NF-U357)
$44.45 $89.99
50% OFF
NEWFAST NF-RE523 AC1200 WiFi Extender - 1200Mbps Dual Band Signal Booster & Internet Repeater
$18.5 $36.99
36% OFF
Men's Athletic Running Shorts with Zipper Pockets - Lightweight & Quick Dry
$12.74 $19.99
Newsletter Stay up to date with Christian Today
News
Pakistani court to review case of abducted Christian girl
Pakistani court to review case of abducted Christian girl

Hundreds of Christian and Hindu girls are abducted every year, possibly more.

Minister: Nursing and Midwifery Council must improve after Christian nurse's vindication in trans row
Minister: Nursing and Midwifery Council must improve after Christian nurse's vindication in trans row

Government ministers have been criticised for warm words not being followed with action.

Vicar gives blessing at 14,000ft during charity skydive
Vicar gives blessing at 14,000ft during charity skydive

Rev Gerard Rundell was unexpectedly asked to bless the cameraman while they were still in freefall.

Christians raise concerns at government wedding proposals
Christians raise concerns at government wedding proposals

Could the proposals also facilitate forced marriage and force all officiants to conduct LGBT ceremonies?

Today's Top Deals

JOYUSING Flip600S 4K Webcam for PC with Tripod - High-Def Clarity

$19.99
$39.99 50% OFF
View Deal

Hawaiian Floral Summer Porch Goose Outfit with Wind-Resistant Sun Hat

$9.99
$19.99 50% OFF
View Deal

MUCAR 892BT AI-Assisted Bidirectional OBD2 Scan Tool with ECU Coding (8" Touchscreen)

$478.79
$629.99 24% OFF
View Deal

NOVETE Smart Countertop Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System with UV & Cooling (CRF0A-Qi)

$99.99
$429.99 77% OFF
View Deal

G Gradual Men's Quick Dry Athletic Running Shorts with Zipper Pockets

$12.74
$19.99 36% OFF
View Deal

X-Sense 10-Year Sealed Battery Combination Smoke and CO Detector (6-Pack, SC06-W)

$225.21
$269.99 17% OFF
View Deal

18K Gold Plated Initial Pendant Necklace with Reinforced Box Chain

$6.49
$12.99 50% OFF
View Deal

6-Inch Desktop Pottery Wheel Kit for Beginners with 2.2lb Air Dry Clay

$44.99
$89.98 50% OFF
View Deal

Portable Folding LED Book Light Night Lamp with Floral Print Cover

$11.99
$23.99 50% OFF
View Deal

Magnelex American Flag Windshield Sun Shade - High-Resolution UV Reflective Heat Shield (X-Large)

$19.9
$26.9 26% OFF
View Deal

TailSphere 12-in-1 Turkey Tail Mushroom Immune Support Chews for Dogs (90 Count)

$13.49
$26.99 50% OFF
View Deal

Aegend Kids Swim Goggles for Toddlers 3-8 with Anti-Fog and No-Hair-Pull Strap

$4.49
$8.99 50% OFF
View Deal

Smart Bluetooth Body Fat Scale with LED Display and Body Composition Analyzer

$21.58
$79.96 73% OFF
View Deal

COSLUS C20 Portable Cordless Water Dental Flosser and Oral Irrigator

$7.99
$29.99 73% OFF
View Deal

Pleco SK01 Solar Powered Robotic Pool Skimmer with App Control (Obsidian & Ivory)

$284.99
$399.99 29% OFF
View Deal

Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner C1 with Wall Climbing and App Control (Glossy Black)

$290.69
$599.99 52% OFF
View Deal

NEWFAST Outdoor WiFi Extender with MU-MIMO and 3 Gigabit Ports (IP66)

$47.99
$99.99 52% OFF
View Deal

NEWFAST AXE5400 Tri-Band USB WiFi 6E Adapter with 4 Antennas (NF-U357)

$44.45
$89.99 51% OFF
View Deal

NEWFAST NF-RE523 AC1200 WiFi Extender - 1200Mbps Dual Band Signal Booster & Internet Repeater

$18.5
$36.99 50% OFF
View Deal

Men's Athletic Running Shorts with Zipper Pockets - Lightweight & Quick Dry

$12.74
$19.99 36% OFF
View Deal