REPORTED CASES
- KH v Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust [2025] UKUT 128 (AAC): leading case giving mental health tribunals guidance on how to deal the appointment of legal representatives where a patient’s mental capacity to conduct proceedings is in doubt.
- CT v London Borough of Lambeth [2025] EWCOP 6 (T3): leading case to clarify the conceptual differences between the clinical concept of ‘insight’ and the legal concept of ‘capacity’, drawing upon the arguments in my paper, ‘Is capacity “in sight”?’ (2009) Journal of Mental Health Law 165-170.
- PS v Local Authority [2024] EWCOP 42: the first reported case that considers the issues of sexual capacity in the context of short-term memory.
- A Local Authority v P [2024] EWHC 1882 (Fam): the first case to consider the positive obligations of Article 3 ECHR in the inherent jurisdiction context particularly in cases where a vulnerable adult rejects state intervention.
- Hemachandran v Thirumalesh [2024] EWCA Civ 896: the relevance of 'belief' when assessing mental capacity.
- Stockport MBC v KB [2023] EWCOP 58: HHJ Burrows clarified that ‘unsound mind’ for Article 5 ECHR purposes means ‘mental disorder’ as defined by the Mental Health Act 1983 and can be confirmed by General Practitioners, which improves COPDOL11 applications for a deprivation of liberty in the community under the Re X streamlined procedure.
- Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust v JS [2023] EWCOP 33: the Vice-President clarified the interface between detention under the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
- Warrington BC v Y [2023] EWCOP 27: emphasises that the clinical concepts of ‘executive dysfunction’ and ‘insight’ are not synonymous with a lack of mental capacity.
- Re Public Guardian's Severance Applications [2023] EWCOP 24, [2024] Fam. 1, [2023] 3 WLR 867: acting for the Public Guardian, this decision of Mr Justice Hayden clarified the law regarding lasting powers of attorney.
- D v S [2023] EWCOP 8, [2023] 2 FLR 1314, [2023] 2 FCR 866: this was the first reported decision of the Court of Protection which considered whether it was in P’s best interests to get divorced following a brain injury.
- Re AC and GC (Capacity; Hoarding; Best Interests) [2022] EWCOP 39: the relevant hoarding decision relates to managing one's items and belongings, with guidance given on relevant information.
- Secretary of State for Justice v A Local Authority & Ors [2021] EWCA Civ 1527: the leading case concerning the legality of carers facilitating sexual services for P.
- Re AA (Capacity to Consent to Sexual Practices) [2020] EWCOP 66: capacity and autoerotic asphyxiation.
- SM v Livewell Southwest CIC (Mental health) [2020] UKUT 191 (AAC): establishes the process to follow when an incapacitated patient detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 wishes to challenge their detention.
- Wakefield Metropolitan District Council & Anor v DN & Anor [2019] EWHC 2306 (Fam): inherent jurisdiction and the detention of those with capacity.
- Re A (Capacity: Social Media and Internet Use: Best Interests) [2019] EWCOP 2: established the test for capacity to use the internet and social media (acted pro bono).
- Re KT [2018] EWCOP 1: established the use of Visitors to ensure a human rights compliant procedure for authorising deprivations of liberty for uncontested, unbefriended cases.
- N v ACCG [2017] UKSC 22: best interests and Court of Protection case management powers (Supreme Court).
- Mrs P v Rochdale Borough Council [2016] EWCOP B1: DoLS challenge; financial deputyship.
- North Yorkshire CC v MAG [2016] EWCOP 5 and [2015] EWCOP 64: conditions of detention.
- Re X (Deprivation of Liberty) [2014] EWCOP 25: established the streamlined procedure for judicial authorisations to deprive liberty.
- P v Cheshire West and Chester Council; P and Q v Surrey County Council [2014] UKSC 19: meaning of “deprivation of liberty” in Article 5 ECHR.
- A Local Authority v SY [2013] EWHC 3485: non-marriage declaration under the inherent jurisdiction; social workers can be eminently suited to provide evidence of incapacity in COP proceedings.
- GA v Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB [2013] UKUT 280 (AAC): consent and community treatment orders.
- P v M (Vulnerable Adult) [2011] EWHC 2778: emphasises the emotional component in the best interests analysis.
- B (Deprivation of Liberty: Validity of Authorisation) [2010] EWHC 2508: guidance on procedural matters concerning the deprivation of liberty safeguards
- G v E and Manchester City Council and F [2010] E.W.H.C. 621; [2010] EWHC 1115; [2010] EWCA Civ 822; [2010] EWHC 2042; [2010] EWHC 2512: breach of Articles 5 and 8 ECHR; deputyship; costs; Winterwerp.
- R. (L and Others) v Manchester City Council [2002] 1 FLR 43: one of the first successful uses of the Human Rights Act 1998.
PUBLICATIONS
Law Books
Legal Journals
Law Books
- Chapter 9 ‘The tests for incapacity’ and chapter 10 ‘Care and treatment of those lacking decision-making capacity’ in Jean McHale and Judith Laing (eds), Principles of Medical Law (4th ed.) (2017), Oxford University Press.
- ‘Psychiatric care and criminal prosecution’ in Medicine, Crime and Society (2013) Cambridge University Press.
- Brazier, M., Allen, N., ‘Criminalising medical malpractice’ in Charles Erin and Suzanne Ost (eds), The Criminal Justice System and Health Care (2007) Oxford University Press.
- Medical or managerial manslaughter?’ in Charles Erin and Suzanne Ost (eds), The Criminal Justice System and Health Care (2007) Oxford University Press.
- Necessity, Incapability and Emergency’ in Steven Hedley and Margaret Halliwell (eds), The Law of Restitution (2002) Butterworths Common Law Series.
Legal Journals
- Allen, N. et al, ‘Advance decisions to refuse treatment and suicidal behaviour in emergency care: ‘it's very much a step into the unknown’ (2019) 5(4) British Journal of Psychiatry 1.
- Allen, N. et al, ‘The management of patients with an advance decision and suicidal behaviour: A systematic review’ (2019) British Medical Journal (open access).
- Ruck-Keene, A., Bartlett, P., Allen, N., ‘Litigation friends or foes? Representation of P before the Court of Protection’ (2016) Medical Law Review 333-359.
- ‘The (not so?) great confinement’ (2015) 5(1) Elder Law Journal 45-51.
- ‘The Right to Life in a Suicidal State’ (2013) 36 International Journal of Law and Psychiatry 350–357.
- Allen, N. and Prescott, A., ‘The opacity of sexual capacity’ (2012) 2(4) Elder Law Journal 352-357.
- ‘Criminal Care: Ill treatment and wilful neglect’ (2012) 2 Elder Law Journal 71-75.
- ‘Dare to care’ (2011) 1(2) Elder Law Journal 167.
- ‘The Bournewood gap (as amended?)’ (2010) 18 Medical Law Review 78-85.
- ‘First do no harm. Second save life?’ (2010) Journal of Mental Health Law 180-185.
- David, T., Bray, S., Farrell, A.M., Allen, N., Ellson, S, ‘Fitness to practise procedures for undergraduate healthcare students’ (2009) 10 Education Law Journal 102-112.
- ‘Saving life and respecting death: A Savage dilemma’ (2009) 17 Medical Law Review 262.
- ‘Is capacity “in sight”?’ (2009) Journal of Mental Health Law 165-170.
- ‘Restricting movement or depriving liberty?’ (2009) Journal of Mental Health Law 19-32.
- ‘Protecting the suicidal patient’ (2008) Journal of Mental Health Law 93-100.
- ‘A human right to smoke?’ (2008) New Law Journal 886-887.
- ‘All in the mind?’ (2008) New Law Journal 848-849.
- ‘Re-detention after recent discharge: A role for judicial review?’ (2007) 15 Medical Law Review 253-261.
- ‘A call for order’ (2007) New Law Journal 241.
- ‘Good faith or no faith?’ (2004) New Law Journal 1170.
- ‘Dunnachie – the door closes.’ (2004) New Law Journal 1208.
- ‘Family values’ (2001) 10 Family Law Journal 18.
- ‘No need to know?’ (2001) 8 Family Law Journal 13.