Court ordered blood transfusion
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The High Court has ordered blood transfusions for a woman who attempted suicide and then refused the treatment in hospital.
Wednesday September 17 2008
A woman who refused blood transfusions after attempting suicide was treated in hospital by direction of the High Court.
Mr Justice Daniel O'Keeffe heard that the woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was recovering following treatment in a Dublin hospital.
Ms Eileen Barrington, counsel for the Health Service Executive (HSE), said the court, in a late sitting on Friday last, had authorised staff at the hospital where she was being treated to administer all medically appropriate treatment.
This included liberty to transfuse up to four litres of blood if necessary to safeguard her life, health and general welfare.
The court had directed the use of any necessary reasonable restraints, which might be appropriate to facilitate transfusions.
Under the Mental Health Act 2001, the court is empowered to authorise medical treatment where a patient does not consent to the administration of blood transfusions and appears to want to commit suicide.
Ms Barrington said that since the original court order and the administration of transfusions the woman's condition had improved.
Treatment
Medical staff had administered two units of blood and felt it may not be necessary to administer any more.
The patient concerned had voluntarily accepted vitamin c and iron orally and was accepting fluids without the need of intravenous intervention.
She was also taking antibiotics for cuts she had suffered.
Ms Barrington said the woman was continuing to refuse psychiatric medication, but this may be dealt with under the Health Act.
The woman in question had not eaten for three days and a further application might be necessary to allow staff to medically feed her.
Judge O'Keeffe adjourned the matter until October 6 with liberty to the HSE to apply to the court if it became necessary in the interim.
- Ray Managh
