Case No. FD25F00020 - [2025] EWHC 783 (Fam)

The mother is 32 and from a country in the Middle East. I have very little background about her, but I understand she has lived in the UK for some time. She has 4 children who are all in her care. They were born at various dates all in the last ten years She is of Muslim faith. I have made inquiries of the father and I am told that he has had no involvement and does not wish to be involved.

In August 2024 she presented to hospital and was investigated and found to have painful neck swellings and temperature spikes. By the end of August the working diagnosis for this illness was Kikuchi lymphadenitis. This is a condition that can be seen in people with HIV. There was an antenatal booking on 12 September 2024. As a routine part of the booking, BBV tests offered. These were declined. On 1 October 2024 she attended another antenatal booking. Again she did not consent to BBV screening. She was spoken to again in November 2024 and then the issue was raised in December at a meeting on the fifth with Professor CC, at which she refused consent for BBV for herself and in respect of the cord blood. A letter was sent to her explaining the importance of testing and she again declined screening in January 2025. She attended hospital with signs of an acute viral illness and again declined BBV screening. She made it clear on 5 March 2025 that she was upset and anxious about being continually asked about BBV screening.