BBC News, Lancashire
A weak teenager whose Ketamine addiction has left her with life-threatening health problems, allegedly given drug by her mother, a court has heard.
18-year-old “Fril and Emaced” from Lancashire, has installed stents to remove pressure on his kidney, a side-effect of bladder problems due to misuse of ketamine, since he was 12 years old.
The person referred to in court as GWS has spent only 33 days out of the hospital since December due to complications related to ketamine.
When he asked to leave the hospital despite “clear risk of death”, the Court of Protection ruled last week that he had a lack of decision -making ability to decide about medical care.
The court heard that GWS was severely malnourished and taken with a suspected gastrointestinal bleed and infection in June.
An NHS Trust successfully denied liberty order.
It also asked the Court of Protection to rule that the teenager lacked the ability to decide about his medical care.
The trust urged the court to prevent GWS from discharging itself before the “prolonged” process to replace the kidney stent, which should be every six to nine months to prevent life-threatening obstacles.
It was also revealed that GWS had no suitable housing, as a supported living provider said it could not manage its health risks.
The court heard that, as a result, he was a real risk of staying on the streets in dangerously weak positions.
The GWS also had a diagnosis of ADHD and Post-Tomatic Stress Disorder, as well as symptoms of autism.
These factors were also raised as concerns about their mental ability.
When asked to give evidence, the doctors said that if the GWS self-discharged, “there [would be] A real risk he will die ”.
Sophia Roper Casey, who represented the NHS Trust, said the court had spoiled the GWS’s rational decision -making ability to make a “right storm”, ketamine and childhood trauma of poor mental and physical health.
In her judgment published last week, Mrs. Justice This DBE, Vice President of the Court of Protection, said that she agreed with Ms. Ropper that evidence has shown that GWS “was not using relevant information about treatment and was not weighing”.
The judge said that he agrees that GWS had “no real understanding of reality if he went out what it would be like”.
The court heard that GWS suggested that he could return to live with his mother, but Mrs. Justice This said it was “completely unreal”.
He wrote: “His history shows that his mother had old mental health difficulties and alcohol abuse, resulting in implementing any limit or continuously providing continuous care from the age of six months of GWS.
“Recently he has been accused of providing GW with Ketamine.”
The court also heard that GWS was exploited to transfer drugs by its dealers.
‘Exceptionally difficult background’
Government data estimates that the use of ketamine in England and Wales has exceeded double since 2016.
For GWS, the damage from the drug in 2023 became clear when he faced symptoms including blood in his urine.
They were detected by ketamine bladder syndrome, where the bladder is thick and has very little capacity.
Their condition deteriorated in 2024 and further bilateral hydronphrosis was detected – both kidneys spread due to obstruction caused by thick bladder.
This requires the insertion of the stent to prevent kidney damage.
They have to be replaced about twice a year under general anesthetic.
The court heard that GWS’s health deteriorated as it continued to take ketamine.
Mrs Justice This has written that despite her “exceptionally difficult background” GWS was “humble and thoughtful” and remained “optimistic” about living independently.
He said that he hopes that the stent process will be done as soon as possible and the appropriate housing can be offered soon, so “he can start taking steps towards achieving freedom what he wants clearly”.