UK Court Denies Critically Ill Teen's Right to Make Medical Decisions for Experimental Treatment

A UK court has ruled that a 19-year-old critically ill patient with a rare disorder cannot make her own decisions about continuing her medical care, as her doctors seek to pursue end-of-life care. The patient, known as "ST," has a degenerative mitochondrial disease and is currently dependent on a ventilator and feeding tube. She is fighting to be allowed to travel to Canada for experimental treatment. The court ruled that she is mentally incapable of making decisions for herself, despite assessments from psychiatrists stating otherwise. The case has sparked controversy and calls for an overhaul in how end-of-life decisions are made in the NHS and the courts.