Townsend v Epsom & Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust [2026] EWCA Civ 195

In a judgment handed down on 3 March 2026, the Court of Appeal issued a set of principles which are likely to have far-reaching consequences for decision-making regarding adults who lack capacity. The case illustrates the difficulties that arise when there is a breakdown in communication between families and clinicians, which can cause concerns that quickly escalate into litigation.