Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 21613Medical consent (amputation)

High Court rules amputation cannot be forced on elderly man

The High Court ruled that doctors in a hospital in the west of Ireland do not have to amputate an elderly man's leg against his clearly expressed wishes, even though he may die without the procedure. The man, in his 70s, suffers from dementia and severe peripheral vascular disease, and has consistently refused consent to the amputation.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court3 Apr
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe man is in his 70s, lives in a remote location, and has been in hospital since the middle of the previous year (rte.ie)
  • whatThe man suffers from severe peripheral vascular disease as a consequence of poorly controlled type two diabetes (rte.ie)
  • whatDoctors carried out surgery to put a graft on his leg and managed to save the limb (rte.ie)
  • whatThe man had consistently and persistently refused to consent to the amputation (rte.ie)
  • whatThe man said 'you may as well throw me in the sea' and described amputation as 'an effing crazy idea' because 'you need two legs to walk' (rte.ie)
  • whatIf his leg was removed he would not be able to walk again due to physical frailty and cognitive impairment (rte.ie)
  • whatThe man went up and down the hospital corridor 20 to 30 times a day on a zimmer frame (rte.ie)
  • whatThe man was not in pain at the time of the hearing (rte.ie)
  • courtThe High Court ruled that doctors do not have to amputate the man's leg against his wishes (rte.ie)
  • courtThe HSE asked the court to make a declaration that providing all necessary care short of amputation was lawful (rte.ie)
  • courtThe matter will be back in court on 5 May (rte.ie)
  • otherThe President of the High Court described the case as posing an appalling dilemma for the medical staff (rte.ie)
  • otherThe man's family were in favour of having the amputation done (rte.ie)
  • otherThe guardian ad litem appointed by the court was James Bardon (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 3 Apr2023
    In courtrte.ie, first report
    Court rules man's leg does not have to be amputated

    High Court grants the HSE's application for a declaration allowing doctors to take all measures short of amputating the man's right leg, respecting his clearly expressed wishes. Matter to return to court on 5 May 2023.

    victim, 70s, male