Judge orders for sick woman's legs to be amputated due to her limited mental capacity

The woman's mother had agreed that she did not have the capacity to make decisions and should have surgery.

The woman, a 49-year-old former farm worker, cannot be identified

A court ruling has ordered that surgeons can amputate the legs of a sick 49-year-old woman who lacks the mental capacity to make decisions.

At a public hearing in the Court of Protection, Mr Justice Mostyn decided that below-knee amputations were in the woman's best interests after analysing evidence.

The judge had been told by the woman's doctors that if her legs were not amputated, infection would almost certainly set in and she could die.

They outlined a range of complex medical problems, saying the former farm worker was largely bed-ridden.

They said parts of her feet had already been amputated.

He said nothing could be reported which might identify the woman who lives in the east of England.

The NHS hospitals trust responsible for the woman's care had asked the judge, who also sits in the Family Division of the High Court based in London, to approve amputations under the terms of mental capacity legislation.

Doctors also said she would have a better chance of regaining movement if fitted with artificial limbs.

Mr Justice Mostyn said he had no doubt that amputations were in the woman's best interests.

Her mother had agreed that she did not have the capacity to make decisions and should have surgery.

A lawyer appointed to represent the woman also approved doctors' plans and analysis of her mental capacity.