Court of protection medical case re 19 year old student

[MrsFionaCharming]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12462943/I-want-die-trying-live-Teenager-rare-genetic-condition-fights-court-NHS-trusts-attempt-withdraw-life-saving-treatment.html

I’d be really interested to hear other people’s thoughts on this, as I feel like I must be missing something.

The purpose of palliative care is to make people comfortable and peaceful as they pass, but surely someone who doesn’t want to be there and still wants to peruse treatment is never going to be comfortable and peaceful there? So it defeats the point.

And it’s not like she’s demanding those doctors treat her, just that she be allowed to travel to doctors who are willing to.

I understand it’s different in cases where it’s parents arguing for treatment of minors, because then the doctors / courts act in the best interest of the child. But this is an adult, who is deemed to have capacity. And one of the basics of consent is the right to make bad decisions. So even if it won’t help her, and isn’t in her best interest, surely she should be allowed?

As @Theeyeballsinthesky says, no decision has been made to let her die. She is "actively dying" according to every doctor who has examined her. That doesn't mean she is about to die. She may still have weeks or months to live. But her body is giving up. She is on artificial ventilation and her kidneys have failed. She has chronic damage to her lungs, bone disease and a number of other problems. She is going to die, although she and her family refuse to accept this. She nearly died in March and July this year when she had major respiratory arrests. It is quite possible that the next such incident will be the last regardless of treatment.

The question, which has not yet been decided, is whether the doctors can move her to palliative care (i.e. keeping her as comfortable as possible until she dies), which would result in treatment that would be less intrusive and less painful than continuing to try to extend her life artificially.

We're you under the impression that terminal illness only affects the elderly and demented?

No, not at all. There is an expectation that most people will die having had a longer, healthier life though, that's normal.

I know more about the situation now but, regardless, it's still very sad. I can understand why she wants to try everything and anything.

There was a very brief mention on the radio today that this woman ( known as ST to protect her identity ) had died.
But nothing on other news .

Very sad news .

How sad. I found this case heart breaking. Poor girl, dealt a really shit hand in life's genetic lottery. How people can believe in god under these circumstances is beyond me.