Anorexic patients distressed by coercive feeding order procedures, High Court hears

An eating disorders specialist has expressed serious concern to the president of the High Court that doctors have to go to court to get orders to coercively feed patients with anorexia.

Mr Justice Peter Kelly said the specialist, with "good justification", perceived a defect in the Mental Health Act, leading to a "cumbersome" situation where feeding orders have to be sought from the court, with "adverse" consequences for some, including patients.