Savage v South Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Judgment was given today, 10 December 2008, by the House of Lords in the case of Savage v South Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

The House of Lords has held that the Trust was under a positive obligation under Article 2 ECHR to take the necessary steps to protect a patient detained under the Mental Health Act, whom it knew or should have known was at real and immediate risk of suicide.

Dinah Rose QC led a team representing Liberty, Justice, Mind and Inquest, interveners in the appeal, instructed by Bhatt Murphy.