Application by an NHS Trust for the consent or approbation of the court to proposed medical treatment of a seven-year-old child. The child was born with multiple medical problems, and as a result, very considerable mental and physical developmental delay. She has received a great deal of help and treatment throughout her life from the hospital of the NHS Trust. There had been a good working relationship between the staff and treating doctors and the parents, and in particular with the mother of the child, with whom she lived. ‘The purpose of these few words is solely to explain why I am imposing temporarily what has just been described as a blanket injunction on any reporting whatsoever – whether in a newspaper, by broadcast, or in any form of web-based communication – of the existence of these proceedings or anything that has taken place in court today. I do so because that is, of course, a very strong and grave restriction on the Convention right of freedom of expression which underpins the democratic rights of us all. These proceedings were listed for hearing in public, and every single word of them today has taken place in public, with journalists present in the court room. I am now delivering this short judgment in public, but this judgment, like everything else that has been said today, will also be the subject of the same temporary blanket restraint.’
Judges:
Holman J
Citations:
[2013] EWHC 4043 (Fam)
Links:
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Health, Children, Media
Updated: 31 August 2022; Ref: scu.519045