A long running dispute over working practices between the Dutch medical authorities and a septuagenarian general practitioner, portrayed as a cause célèbre for older people's rights, is to go before the Netherlands' highest administrative court.

The Council of State, which advises on legislation and governance, will judge whether a 74 year old can be stopped from working as a GP if she refuses to join colleagues in out of hours deputising services. Dr Tonny Bakhoven from Driebergen near Utrecht says she prefers to see her patients herself during nights, weekends, and holidays. But the …