Hospital Found to Have Broken Law After Withdrawing Life-Sustaining Treatment and Letting Patient Die

Hospital found to have broken law after withdrawing life-sustaining treatment and letting patient die

The Court of Appeal has determined that a hospital acted unlawfully after it stopped life-sustaining treatment, leading to a patient's death

Hospital broke the law in withdrawing life-sustaining treatment

The Court of Appeal has ruled it was illegal for St Helier Hospital to withdraw life‑sustaining dialysis from 68‑year‑old Robert Barnor on 11 February 2026, despite the objections of his family and without seeking the court’s approval. While the judgment resolves a major legal controversy, confirming that life-and-death “clinical decisions” to refuse further treatment still need approval from the Court of Protection, it came too late for Mr Barn…