Victoria Butler-Cole, of 39 Essex Chambers, acted for Lindsey Briggs in the High Court, which ruled that her husband, the Gulf War veteran Paul Briggs, could be moved to a hospice to receive palliative care only. It is the first time that a court has ruled that food and water be withdrawn from a clinically stable patient.
What were the main challenges?
Helping Mr Briggs’s family to convey his personality, beliefs and values to the court. This was difficult because he had not put anything in writing about what he would want if he was severely disabled and unable to make his own decisions.
What’s the best decision you’ve taken as a lawyer?
To put my family first, rather than worrying what might happen if I don’t spend all my waking hours at work. I’m not irreplaceable at work, but I like to think that I am at home.
Who has inspired you in your career?
My parents, who made sure their three daughters always believed that “girls can do anything”; my husband; my ethics tutor, Professor Jonathan Glover; and the many amazing senior female barristers in my chambers.
What’s the oddest thing that has happened to you as a lawyer?
Being told in advance of a mini-pupillage in 2005 that “for the avoidance of doubt, women are allowed to wear trousers”. Fortunately the Bar hasn’t turned out to be quite as prehistoric as I feared.
Advertisement
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Do pro bono work.
Which three qualities should a lawyer have?
In the Court of Protection lawyers need to be practical, sensitive and always conscious that they are not the most important person in the room.
What law would you enact?
When the Court of Protection decides that it is not in a person’s best interests to continue to receive artificial nutrition and hydration, it is withdrawn and the person dies slowly of dehydration. The court cannot authorise a fatal dose of medication instead. To me, that is obviously wrong.
How would you like to be remembered?
For my involvement with the charity Compassion in Dying, encouraging people to write advance decisions to refuse treatment so that their families don’t need to go through court proceedings (mydecisions.org.uk); and as someone who never grew out of believing that we should all be trying to make the world a better place.
l_tsang@hotmail.com