Doctors defend handling of terminally ill teenager

23 June 2015

The Court of Protection granted doctors permission to withhold treatment

An 18-year-old suffering from a brain tumour has died months after doctors gave him two weeks to live.

Alexander Elliot's case was first heard in February in the Court of Protection. Doctors from the University Hospital Southampton told the court, "it was in his best interests for ... treatment to be stopped" and gave Alexander only two weeks to live. [Daily Echo, 19 June]

After the prognosis was given, the court granted doctors permission to withhold treatment. However, Elliot's mother argued for her son at a late-night hearing which lasted more than eight hours. Despite predictions, he "remained alive, and surpassed all expectations". Elliot's father told of the "incredible strain" which the teenager's mother had endured. [Belfast Telegraph, 20 June]

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