St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust v UJ & Ors [2026] EWCOP 39 (T3)

Application by Trust to carry out life-saving surgery where the family opposed the procedure

UJ, a 45-year-old man, suffered a severe traumatic brain injury after attempting suicide with a crossbow in April 2026. The resulting injuries have left him seriously ill and doctors considered that an operation would allow them to assess whether he could regain some quality of life. Without the surgery he would continue to decline and eventually die. Members of his family opposed the treatment largely as they felt prolonging life in these circumstances would accord with UJ's wishes as he was always active and independent. His mother, after initially agreeing with the doctors, also came to that conclusion. 

Mrs Justice Theis weighed the sanctity of life against UJ's likely wishes. Although the surgery offered UJ's only chance of meaningful recovery, there was uncertainty as to what recovery would look like and how dependent UJ would be. Acknowledging this was a finely balanced decision, she gave considerable weight to the family's evidence that UJ would not want to live dependent and disabled so she refused the  application.

Read the judgment on Bailii