EWJ August 62 2025 web - Journal - Page 114
l Quality vs. Sanctity of Life: The judge acknowledged the medical view that PK’s quality of life was
“very poor”. However, he reiterated the legal principle that poor quality of life does not automatically
mean life is no longer worth living. He said: “The best
interests test is not a test of what the court thinks is in the person’s
clinical interests, but a holistic appraisal of the person’s welfare
in the widest sense, including emotional and spiritual welfare.”
Dr Marzio Ascione
Neuropsychologist
Consultant Clinical Psychologist
CPsychol, PsychD
Dr Marzio Ascione has over 20 years of experience assessing and treating a wide
range of psychological and neuropsychological conditions.
Area of work: UK Nationwide and worldwide
l Presumption in Favour of Life: The court reaffirmed
that there remains a strong presumption in favour of
preserving life, especially where there is no clear evidence the person would have refused such treatment.
Areas of expertise include:
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Mental Capacity Assessments (MCA)
• Cognitive and intellectual functioning, including memory, attention,
and executive functioning
• Malingering assessments
• Fitness to plead
• Fitness to stand trial
• Disposal and pre-sentencing reports
• Anxiety disorders
• Depression
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
The application was dismissed. The court found that
continuing CANH was in PK’s best interests, based not
only on his awareness but more importantly on his
known values and religious beliefs. In doing so, Mr
Justice McKendrick stressed that individual dignity is
not always defined by independence or physical
capability but often by the person’s own sense of
meaning, purpose, and belief.
Dr Ascione also has more than a decade of experience as an Expert Witness,
working with solicitors to provide expert assessments, evidence-based reports,
and court testimony.
Why This Case Matters:
This case is significant for its reaffirmation of two core
principles:
1. Respect for Autonomy through Values: Even when
a person loses capacity, their deeply held values, especially religious and cultural, must guide decisionmaking.
Contact
Tel: 01223 323 575
Email: info@cbtneuropsychologycentre.co.uk
Website: www.cbtneuropsychologycentre.co.uk
Address: CBT & Neuropsychology Centre,
1 Anderson Court, Newnham Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB39EZ
2. Sanctity of Life vs. Medical Futility: The judgment
reiterates that life should not be ended based solely on
medical prognosis when personal beliefs point to
continued treatment, however minimal the benefits.
Mr Suhail Chughtai FRCS
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Locum
Orthopaedic Injury Examiner & Expert Medical Witness
Mr. Suhail Chughtai is a UK-based locum Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and experienced Medico-Legal Examiner,
having provided over 30,000 specialist orthopaedic reports since 2006. He collaborates with more than 150 instructing
parties, including leading medical reporting agencies and law firms across the country.
One of Mr. Chughtai’s key strengths lies in designing and optimizing operational workflows for the seamless
production of professional medico-legal reports, from initial appointment scheduling through to final report dispatch.
This innovation in service delivery led his company, M L Professionals, to receive a Business Innovation Award from
a London borough in 2011.
Established in 2008, M L Professionals has grown into a premier provider of medico-legal examination services in
England, operating across more than 23 strategically located medical centers nationwide. With over 15 years of
consistent growth and a strong reputation for reliability, the company specializes in delivering comprehensive medical
assessments and reporting solutions for Personal Injury and Medical Negligence claims.
Backed by years of collective expertise while operating since 2008, M L Professionals continues to deliver high-quality
medico-legal services, having successfully completed and dispatched more than 30,000 orthopaedic medical reports
across the UK, underscoring its longstanding commitment to clinical excellence, operational efficiency, and client
satisfaction. M L Professionals’ key services are centric to providing Comprehensive Medical Examination Services
M L Professionals Ltd, No: 1-147 - 39 Ludgate Hill, London, EC4M 7JN
Contact: Practice Manager, Tel: 0203 892 1669 - Alternate Tel: Director, Mr Suhail Chughtai 0203 892 1884
Email: manager@mlprofessionals.com - Alternate Email: The Director Email: director@mlprofessionals.com
Website: www.mlprofessionals.com
Area of work: We operate monthly clinics at over 23 strategically located medical examination centres across
England, ensuring convenient and accessible services for your clients.
EXPERT WITNESS JOURNAL
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AUGUST/SEPT 2025
