Coercive Control and Vulnerable Adults

"The publication of this book is most welcome. Dr Oliver Lewis' expertise in medical ethics and human rights law add a depth and breadth to its content which takes it beyond that of practitioner's guide to being an authoritative work covering all aspects of this important topic." The Rt Hon Lady Justice King (from the foreword)

Coercive Control and Vulnerable Adults: Law and Practice in the Court of Protection and under the Inherent Jurisdiction of the High Court explains how the law protects adults from coercive and controlling behaviour where they lack, or may lack, the capacity to make their own decisions about their safety. This title looks at the challenges faced in this area and provides practical guidance on progressing cases to promote the autonomy of victims/survivors of coercive control and protect them against harm.

Aimed at legal practitioners in this area, but accessible to the diverse range of professionals involved in safeguarding responses, the text provides an understanding of:

- The ways in which adults with mental disabilities (including those with dementia or learning disabilities) are susceptible to becoming victims of coercive control and how to assess their capacity to make decisions

- The law and practice of the Court of Protection and under the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court, including guidance on bringing applications, establishing the facts, the conduct of proceedings and the relevant legal tests, and the remedies available including injunctive relief

- Trauma-informed skillsets that lawyers should deploy when representing one of the three parties in these cases: (a) the local authority, (b) the victim/survivor, and (c) the alleged perpetrator of coercive control.

This title is included in Bloomsbury Professional's Family Law online service.

Oliver's practice spans health care, disability and human rights. He acts for the full range of NHS bodies, local authorities, the Official Solicitor and family members in medical treatment and complex welfare proceedings cases in the Court of Protection and in the Family Division. He is regularly instructed in inquests, Human Rights Act and negligence claims in relation to health and social care.
Having participated in the negotiations that led to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006), Oliver provides training and advice to intergovernmental bodies, governments and NGOs on its implementation. Oliver's international practice draws on his 14 years as legal director then executive director of Validity (formerly Mental Disability Advocacy Centre), an international disability rights NGO based in Budapest.