A WOMAN who refused blood transfusions after having attempted suicide has been treated in hospital by direction of the High Court.
Mr Justice Daniel O’Keeffe heard yesterday that the woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was recovering following treatment in a Dublin hospital.
Eileen Barrington, for the Health Service Executive (HSE), said the court, in a late sitting last Friday, had authorised staff at the hospital where she was being treated to administer all medically appropriate treatment. This included liberty to transfuse up to four litres of blood if necessary to safeguard her life, health and general welfare.
The court had directed the use of any necessary reasonable restraints which might be appropriate to facilitate transfusions.
Under the Mental Health Act 2001, the court is empowered to authorise medical treatment where a patient does not consent to the administration of blood transfusions and wishes to die by suicide.
Ms Barrington said that, since the original court order and the administration of transfusions, the woman’s condition had improved. Medical staff had administered two units of blood and felt it may not be necessary to administer any more.
The patient concerned had voluntarily accepted vitamin C and iron orally and was accepting fluids without the need of intravenous intervention. She was also taking antibiotics for cuts she had suffered.
Ms Barrington said the woman was continuing to refuse psychiatric medication but that this may be dealt with under the Mental Health Act. She had not eaten for the past three days and a further application might be necessary to allow staff to medically feed her.
Mr Justice O’Keeffe adjourned the matter until October 6th with liberty to the HSE to apply to the court if necessary in the interim.