Judge rules doctors can amputate man's foot against his wishes

A judge has ruled a man with severe gangrene in his foot will have it amputated against his wishes.

Bosses at the NHS hospital where he is being treated successfully applied for a court ruling to allow doctors to remove part of his left leg.

The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had refused permission for the amputation despite the risk gangrene would spread to the rest of his body.

But Mr Justice Francis ruled doctors can sedate or if necessary even physically restrain their patient in order to complete the surgery.

They had feared the condition, if allowed to spread through other parts of his body, would ultimately kill him. Mr Justice Francis ruled the man did not have the mental capacity to make decisions about his treatment.

He was sitting in the Court of Protection, where judges consider issues about people who are deemed to be unable to make decisions on financial and welfare matters for themselves. 

Ordinarily, anyone aged 16 or over in Britain cannot be given medical treatment of any kind – even the sort which would save their life – without their consent.

Source: independent.co.uk

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