Patient dies after judge gives UK hospital trust permission to withhold blood products

A Jehovah’s Witness who had a bleeding duodenal ulcer has died eight days after a High Court judge declared that it would be lawful for the hospital trust treating her to withhold lifesaving blood or blood products.

Mr Justice Peter Jackson ruled that the 63 year old woman, who had a history of depression and paranoid schizophrenia, had capacity to decide for herself and was “adamant” that she did not want the treatment.

He made the declaration after an emergency hearing by video link from Newcastle upon Tyne on 18 February, and the patient died early …