Disabled man who communicated by blinking dies at home after judge grants wish
A severely disabled man who communicated by blinking and persuaded a judge to let him leave hospital and go home to his mother has died, lawyers have said.
Mr Justice Hayden visited the man, who was in his 20s and had tetraplegic cerebral palsy, in hospital earlier this summer.
The man asked the judge if he could spend the rest of his life at home after doctors said further treatment was futile.
He told his solicitor, Nicola Mackintosh, what he wanted to happen by blinking at pictures in a special communication book.
Ms Mackintosh, who is based at Mackintosh Law, interpreted and delivered his message to the judge.
Mr Justice Hayden ruled that the man should leave hospital.
He returned home about a week ago after the judge approved a care plan.
Lawyers involved in the case said on Thursday that the man had died.
Mr Justice Hayden had analysed the case at hearings in the Court of Protection, where judges consider issues relating to people who lack the mental capacity to make decisions for themselves, in London.
He said the man could not be identified in media reports of the case.
Specialists said the time had come for life-support treatment to end and for the man to move to a palliative care regime.
Hospital bosses responsible for his care asked Mr Justice Hayden to make decisions about whether he should spend the rest of his life in hospital, in a hospice or at home.
The man’s parents, who are separated, were against life-support treatment ending.
Mr Justice Hayden was told that the man had been left disabled as a result of a “medical mistake” at birth.
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