Re J (A Minor)

(1990) 2 Med LR 67

COURT OF APPEAL

Lord DONALDSON, Lord Justice BALCOMBE, and Lord Justice TAYLOR

Medical treatment — Consent — Ward of court — Baby of 5 months profoundly but not terminally ill — Ventilation required on several occasions — Baby's severe lack of capacity in all faculties — Further ventilation involving risk of deterioration — Judge's order authorizing hospital to treat baby within parameters of medical opinion that it would not be in baby's best interests to reventilate in the event of his stopping breathing — Whether invasive and distressing nature of treatment clearly capable of producing quality of life justifying judge's conclusion — Whether judge's order should be varied