Increase in general damages from 1 April 2013 *

United Kingdom - September 17 2012
On 26 July 2012, the Court of Appeal (comprising the Lord Chief Justice, the Master of the Rolls and the Vice President of the Court of Appeal) handed down judgment in the case of Simmons v Castle.

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Nicklinson and AM – High Court decision on euthanasia and assisted suicide cases *

United Kingdom - August 17 2012
The High Court handed down judgment on 16 August 2012 in relation to the highly publicised cases of Tony Nicklinson and “Martin” (his real identify has been anonymised).

Co-authors: Helen Burnell, Duncan Astill, Philip Grey, Jill Mason, Stuart Knowles.

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The NHS duty to prevent suicide - the decision of the Supreme Court to extend the duty to informal patients *

United Kingdom - February 10 2012
In an extension of human rights law, the Supreme Court has made it clear that all psychiatric patients admitted into a mental health unit and at risk of suicide should be given the same level of protection irrespective of their status under the Mental Health Act.

Co-authors: Stuart Knowles.

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Patient matters: deprivation of liberty safeguards *

United Kingdom - December 13 2011
The case of The Queen on the application of Sawida Sessay v South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and The Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis involved the admission and detainment of a non-compliant, incapacitated patient, pending an application for her compulsory admission under section 2 of the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA).

Co-authors: Jill Mason.

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RK - another deprivation of liberty case *

European Union, United Kingdom - December 5 2011
The Court of Appeal handed down judgment on 30 November 2011 in relation to RK, a disabled child accommodated in a care home by the local authority.

Co-authors: Helen Burnell, Lucy Johnston, Charlotte Mawdesley, Jill Mason.

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