On 2 February 2026, an inquest jury in Horsham found that multiple failings in mental health care contributed to the death of 16-year-old Ellame Ford-Dunn on 20 March 2022. Read more: www.doughtystreet.co.uk/news/risk-te...

UK Supreme Court hears disability rights case - the judgment, expected to be handed down next year, has UK-wide implications for people with learning disabilities, brain injury or dementia, mental health problems, and autistic people. @droliverlewis.bsky.social was instructed by Irwin Mitchell.

I'm doing a remote talk with the lovely people at Thalamos at 12:30pm today Monday (22 Sept) to support NHS leaders to prepare for when the Mental Health Bill becomes law. Sign up here: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/a6127d...

Baby Z sadly died last week after life-sustaining treatment was withdrawn. Asma Nizami and I represented the baby’s lovely parents before Theis J in the Family Division, instructed by Irwin Mitchell www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWH...

𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗰 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲-𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 - @droliverlewis.bsky.social represented the family on a direct access and pro bono basis, spending over 150 hours on the case since March 2025.

Today, 19 May 2025, the UK Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights published its report on the Mental Health Bill. Our Ulele Burnham gave oral evidence to the committee and Oliver Lewis (@droliverlewis.bsky.social) provided evidence in written submissions.

Lovely write-up by @jordan-briggs.bsky.social of our recent event on autism and learning disability in the #MHBill. With @rightfullives.bsky.social @aquinnunbroken.bsky.social @lisaperry.bsky.social @doughtystreet.bsky.social insights.doughtystreet.co.uk/post/102k68x...

“It is far too early to let this 25-year-old woman die when medical treatment is available that could prevent her death.” I’m representing the extraordinary family of an anorexic & autistic woman who now weighs 19kg. www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03...

I’m in Geneva today, and presented on behalf of @inclusionintl.bsky.social at the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities’ day of discussion on the right to political participation. www.doughtystreet.co.uk/news/oliver-... @doughtystreet.bsky.social

Here’s the video recording of our webinar last week on autism, learning disability and the #MentalHealthBill. Thanks to all who spoke and watched! youtu.be/oM53rBKkLEM @rightfullives.bsky.social @learningdisability.bsky.social

A wonderful evening hosted by @doughtystreet.bsky.social on the impact of the forthcoming Mental Health Bill. What happens with the removal of learning disability & autism when there’s no community provision?

😃With @rightfullives.bsky.social, I'm co-organising an event about learning disability, autism and the #MHBill 📢 Fab speakers, all have experience of MHA detention 📅 Tues 4 March at 6pm 📍At @doughtystreet.bsky.social and on Zoom Register here www.doughtystreet.co.uk/event/deep-d...

UK Parliament's Joint Committee on Human Rights has published my written evidence on the Mental Health Bill. l suggested amendments that would advance the rights of persons with learning disabilities and/or autism #MHBill https://buff.ly/4hHhfBL

UK Parliament's Joint Committee on Human Rights has published my written evidence on the Mental Health Bill. l suggested amendments that would advance the rights of persons with learning disabilities and/or autism #MHBill https://buff.ly/4hHhfBL

Private schools receiving millions of pounds of taxpayer cash to educate children with special needs have used excessive restraint on pupils and failed to manage their behaviour, leaving them “at risk of harm”, The i Paper can reveal. #RestraintForRevenue inews.co.uk/news/educati...

AP is a lovely young man with learning disabilities and autism. He experienced significant harm while being detained in a "s.136 suite" in a mental health hospital for a whopping 340 days. A Human Rights Act claim has resulted in a settlement. 1/4 www.doughtystreet.co.uk/news/justice...

Today I went with an instructing solicitor on a home visit to meet my client, a young autistic man with learning disabilities. Through his mum who interpreted his sounds, words and movements, I learned about the way he communicates, about his hobbies and talents, and his wishes and worries.

Welcome news. From today, offenders serving a sentence of at least 12 months for controlling or coercive behaviour will be automatically managed under multi-agency public protection arrangements (Mappa)

It’s worth watching Trudeau’s excellent speech in full youtu.be/xiaACQpFUfE

I’m reading a lot more CBC these days, to understand the Canadian take on Trump, and now the bonkers tarrifs. The idea in this article is quite something! www.cbc.ca/news/world/c...

Court of Appeal provides guidance on how an appeal court should proceed if capacity to conduct the appeal is in question www.doughtystreet.co.uk/news/oliver-...

Lovely column by dear Ol!

Thank you London Court of Protection Practitioners Association for hosting an interesting seminar on coercive and controlling behaviour 1/3

Super helpful new guidance, relevant also for Court of Protection lawyers 👉 Family Justice Council Guidance on Neurodiversity in the Family Justice System for Practitioners

Today is #HolocaustMemorialDay. I fall silent in remembrance of the victims of prejudice and persecution. #WeRemember 1/4

If you have a recommendation for a UK-based occupational therapist with expertise in learning disabilities and autism who can act as an expert in court proceedings, please DM me!

Looking forward to speaking about coercive control, influence and capacity when dealing with vulnerable clients, at 5:30pm next Weds 29 Jan in central London, with my DSC colleague Nancy Williams & Yogi Amin of Irwin Mitchell. Info below to book a spot.

Searching for a UK-based occupational therapist with expertise in learning disabilities and autism who can act as an expert in court proceedings. Please DM me with recommendations!

It was a delight to speak this morning at #CerebralPalsyEurope's online conference on political participation of people with disabilities cerebralpalsyeurope.org

I've just seen that the new Chief Coroner has published a "naughty list" of organisations that have not responded to Prevention of Future Deaths reports. Several central government ministries, NHS Trusts, 3 royal colleges and NICE are all on the list.

If you'd like a deep dive into the #MentalHealthBill, please join us at Doughty Street Chambers, 6pm on Tues 21 Jan, in-person or online. I'll be speaking about the potential impact on people with learning disabilities and autistic people. https://buff.ly/4h6HMb4

I love it when judges are creative. Yesterday I did a displacement of nearest relative hearing in the county court. The judge decided to also sit as a CoP judge, lift a stay in parallel CoP proceedings and list a combo hearing before the same judge wearing two hats. Streamlined and cost effective.

Covid19 Bereaved Families for Justice member John Sullivan has died. He gave evidence to the inquiry about his daughter Susie who had Down's syndrome. He made a profound contribution to the inquiry and was a caring, sharp and witty man. May his memory be a blessing. www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5UZ...

After 8 years as a trustee of the Bristol Law Centre (not yet on Bluesky) incl 4 as chair, today was my last board meeting following a planned transition. I’m proud to have been part of such a fabulous & impactful law centre. I wish the staff & trustees much success in the future! 💙

Interesting point: “Capacity assessments would not assess whether someone felt they were a burden.” Capacity assessments are difficult enough in coercive control cases where the outcome isn’t death!

🚨Human Rights Organisation Liberty: Assisted dying Bill presents serious safeguarding risks The bill has a “principles first, details later” approach which could lead to significant risks to marginalised and vulnerable groups, Liberty claimed. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/libe...

Fantastic intervention by @baronesskeeley.bsky.social who spoke of widespread concerns that removing learning disability and autism from the MHA "could lead to people being held under DOLS, and we must guard against that happening." Watch from 19:59 parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...

Very good idea to have a Mental Health Commissioner, (modelled on the Children's Commissioner), but ofc we used to have entire MH Commission which was very strong. So strong that the government abolished it and watered down its powers into the puddle of the CQC.

Fantastic intervention by @baronesskeeley.bsky.social who spoke of widespread concerns that removing learning disability and autism from the MHA "could lead to people being held under DOLS, and we must guard against that happening." Watch from 19:59 parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...

New post from the much missed on social media Prof Hatton... chrishatton.blogspot.com/2024/11/soci...

Bravo! Lord @paulscriven.bsky.social says "The legislation itself will not change what happens" with people with learning disability / autism. He warns that DoLS will be applied, and people will lose out on s117 aftercare.

Brilliant by @ianbirrell.bsky.social “I have investigated assisted dying in Europe and North America – it frees a genie from the bottle” inews.co.uk/opinion/ther...

Interesting debate on the Mental Health Bill in the Lords. Many Peers talking about autism and learning disability, but few recognising the pitfalls that people will just be deprived of their liberty under 'DoLS' and will lose entitlement to aftercare.

I’m speaking in the #MentalHealthBill in the Lords today about the inappropriate detention of autistic people & people with learning disabilities Thanks to @droliverlewis.bsky.social & @thesmallplaces.bsky.social for their help & input

Hello to everyone on Bluesky - we've just joined. We're promoting #OpenJustice in the English Court of Protection by supporting members of the public to observe and blog about court hearings in the #NotSecretCourt Check out our website openjusticecourtofprotection.org

House of Lords 2nd reading on the #MentalHealthBill starts at 2:30pm today, Monday 25 Nov. Look out for @baronesskeeley.bsky.social's speech 😀 Watch live - parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...

Just watched “Joy”, a new heartwarming movie about the IVF pioneers, in particular Jean Purdy who was widely forgotten about (hmm, I wonder why 🤷🏼‍♀️). Highly recommended! www.netflix.com/tudum/articl...

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