The HSE was ordered to arrange life-saving surgery on a woman last month after she repeatedly refused the removal of a gastric band that was dangerously restrictive of food passing into her stomach. A newly published ruling by the High Court shows Judge Barry O’Donnell issued orders permitting the HSE to carry out invasive medical procedures it considered urgent on foot of doctors’ concerns. Pic: Getty ImagesLawyers for the HSE said the gastric band was too tight and causing the woman malnutrition from very little food passing into her stomach. The HSE said the band had already damaged the woman’s oesophagus and stomach and risked causing further, potentially fatal damage. Judge O’Donnell directed that no details of the case that could identify the woman, her doctors or the hospital should be published.