The High Court has been asked to rule on whether the constitutional and human rights of a mentally ill woman aged 48 were being breached by allowing doctors to administer certain treatment to her against her wishes.
Doctors say certain blood tests are essential to safeguard against potentially life-threatening side-effects from her psychiatric medication.
Last July, Mr Justice John MacMenamin ruled the court would allow the blood tests which, while invasive, were ancillary to and part of procedures necessary to deal with the woman’s illness.
The judge has granted the Irish Human Rights Commission an advisory role as a “friend of the court” in relation to the rights issue.