Mental health – Persons who lack capacity. The Court of Protection ordered that it was lawful and in the best interests of a female patient detained under s 3 of the Mental Health Act 1983, due to her diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy in circumstances where she lacked capacity to make that decision for herself. The medical evidence was that surgery was in her best interests and the patient strongly wished to undergo the surgery.