Hughes Paddison is delighted to warmly welcome Heidi Aitken to the Equity Partnership. Here we celebrate her career so far and hear about her plans, as an Equity Partner.
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The Covid-19 vaccination rollout is the biggest inoculation programme the country has ever undertaken. Uptake of the vaccine has far outreached expectations, with more than 19 million having received at least one jab, and more than 700,000 a second.
Yet, it must not be overlooked that for many people the question of whether to have the vaccination is a decision that they may not be able to make for themselves.
Last week welcomed the news that a further 150,000 adults with a learning disability are to be prioritised for vaccination. The decision followed campaigns by charities and advocacy organisations who highlighted the increased risk to adults with learning disabilities posed by Covid-19; a campaign which gained marked momentum following DJ Jo Whiley’s public pleas on behalf of her sister, Frances.
If you are a parent, carer or relative of someone with a learning disability or someone living with dementia you may find yourself confronted with difficult emotional and legal decisions;
Can I give or refuse consent on behalf my loved one? How should I go about it? What can be done if I disagree with a decision on vaccination?
The Court of Protection has now ruled on the first case concerning capacity and best interests in relation to the Covid-19 vaccine. The case concerned an 80 year old woman living in a care home in which there had been a number of cases of Covid-19. Whilst her son objected to her being vaccinated, the court ruled that the vaccine was in her best interests. In particular, the decision took into account the potential risk to her health and safety, as well as her previous record of receiving vaccinations in line with public health advice.
For all of us, whatever our current personal and family circumstances, this serves as a stark reminder of the vital importance of putting appropriate legal documents in place ahead of time. Contrary to common belief, the role of ‘next of kin’ gives no rights to relatives or friends without a valid LPA in place. Sadly, your family could find that they have little influence over decision making on your behalf.
If you would like specialist advice on putting LPAs (or Advance Decisions) in place contact a member of the firm’s Private Client team. The firm’s Litigation team are also here to advise or represent you if you are concerned about a vaccination decision for a loved one.
The information contained on this page has been prepared for the purpose of this blog/article only. The content should not be regarded at any time as a substitute for taking legal advice.
Hughes Paddison is delighted to warmly welcome Heidi Aitken to the Equity Partnership. Here we celebrate her career so far and hear about her plans, as an Equity Partner.
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“Hughes Paddison have provided assistance on numerous occasions consistently acting in an exemplary fashion whilst dealing with all aspects of the issue at hand. It is extremely reassuring to know that our company is represented by such a competent and professional firm.”– Commercial Director, Ferroli Limited
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“Having the support of Marcus throughout what has been a very painful divorce has really helped me get through the last 18 months. Although this has personally been a very difficult process, I know that Marcus has done everything possible to make it as smooth as it can be. I really appreciate the honest, open feedback to all of my questions and also how quickly he responded to them. Above all else, Marcus really does seem to care about his clients and their families. I never had the feeling that this was just a job for Marcus, and I’m so grateful that I was fortunate enough to have had Marcus recommended to me when I did.”– R
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“ Hughes Paddison came highly recommended and they were not wrong. I am so glad I appointed Kim to represent me. It was a really difficult time and Kim swiftly and compassionately cut through to the crux of the issue and gave me such clear and great advice immediately. The outcome achieved was truly the best for myself and the organisation and avoided more stress for all parties involved, as it was solved very quickly. Most importantly for me, Kim handled the negotiations. The relief of handing this over to someone I completely trusted made a horrible situation much better. Many thanks to Kim and HP.”– Anon
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