Comatose man’s secret lovers join forces to keep him alive – after only finding out about each other when he suffered a brain bleed

A comatose man’s secret lovers have joined forces to keep him alive, despite finding out about one another after he had suffered a bleed on the brain. 

The two women, who had been with their partner for over two decades, were unaware of each other’s existence until the 60-year-old suffered a bleed to the brain last October. 

Due to the brain injury, he developed a prolonged disorder of consciousness (PDOC) – a term used for patients in a coma or a vegetative state (VS).

After being admitted to ICU, he was later transferred to a rehabilitation unit under the Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, where he remains. 

The Trust had requested permission from the court to withdraw his clinically assisted hydration and nutrition, which would lead to his eventual death. 

However, the man’s lovers, referred to as JG and MB, argued against the proposal, saying the man would have wished to keep living despite his vegetative state. 

The pair are also ‘his bedside each day, provide emotional and physical care for him’ and are ‘very well attuned to his physical needs’, the court was told.  

The Official Solicitor, who was present to represent YD’s interest, also argued the 60-year-old would feel ‘his life now is dignified because of the love and care provided to him by his partners’. 

‘He would wish to continue in this way until the life of his body was ended by a process such as a heart attack, further stroke, or infection,’ they added. 

Mrs Justice Theis ruled it was in YD’s best interest to continue to receive the clinically assisted treatment after considering the matter ‘through a wide best interests lens’. 

A comatose man’s secret lovers have joined forces to keep him alive, despite finding out about one another after he had suffered a bleed on the brain (File image of Hillingdon Hospital)

The judge acknowledged how ‘striking’ it had been that even though the women had known YD for 20 and 24 years respectively, they had been unaware of one another. 

Yet, despite not having known one another until the incident, they were ‘able to independently confirm many common features’ about his wishes and beliefs, the judge said.  

‘In particular, regarding the depth of his interest in the spiritual world and his limitless curiosity about such matters that he held strong beliefs about.

‘YD has long held beliefs about the healing power of the mind, body and soul, and to understand and, if required, push established boundaries based on his learning and understanding.

‘From their descriptions, YD was a compassionate, private person who was a fiercely independent thinker about a wide range of issues, in particular regarding the spiritual world and healing.

‘His long-standing interest in the healing power of the mind, spirit or soul would very likely be values that would inform his decision if he had capacity,’ they added. 

‘The changes that have been observed he would regard as positive signs and that he had the potential to make further changes.’

Mrs Justice Theis also added how the 60-year-old’s beliefs in healing were ‘likely to be relevant’ and would have informed his decision if he had the capacity. 

They continued that it would have been a factor in his ‘wishing’ to continue to receive clinically assisted nutrition and hydration.

Noting his participation in spiritual healing, she said: ‘YD would also likely factor in, due to his long-standing beliefs in such matters, that others believe they are in communication with him.’

The judge concluded while there would be burdens for YD in continuing treatment, both long-term and short-term, it would, ‘most importantly’, preserve his life. 

And even though his awareness is ‘extremely limited’ and that ‘there may be little or no further improvement’, they concluded: ‘It is far from clear that in the circumstances YD is in, he would regard his continued existence as a burden.’

‘There is a strong presumption in favour of preserving life which, in my judgment, having carefully evaluated the evidence in this unusual case, the Trust has not discharged.’ 

The hospital’s application was refused.