Sam Karim QC instructed in tragic case involving COVID-19 and removal of life sustaining treatment

In a tragic case this week, Sam Karim QC was instructed by Enoch Evans LLP in respect of family members in an urgent application before the Vice President of the Court of Protection for the removal of life sustaining treatment from a patient in her 30s who was suffering COVID-19 and in an induced coma. The case demonstrates the fine balance that the Court of Protection grapples with when deciding what is in a patient’s best interests (who lacks capacity to make the decision on medical treatment), especially when there are competing factors such as medicine, ethics and religious beliefs. The Court granted the application sought by the relevant Trust.

The judgment can be found at: https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCOP/2021/16.pdf

Any further information can be obtained from the Clerk to Sam Karim QC, Mark Ronson.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-56180767

https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-woman-in-coma-with-coronavirus-after-giving-birth-last-month-should-be-allowed-to-die-says-judge-12227297

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/24/woman-with-covid-should-be-allowed-to-die-weeks-after-giving-birth-judge-rules