A woman with severe anorexia who is “very likely to die” without a nasogastric tube and without restrictions on her autonomy has told the Supreme Court that she feels she has “lost control” of her life and wants to “find myself again”.

The woman, a woman in her 50s who had long been diagnosed with anorexia, addressed the court via video link from her hospital bed.

At an out-of-court meeting on Wednesday, Judge Mark Heslin granted an application by the HSE to continue previous treatment orders necessary to protect the woman’s right to life and physical integrity.

The court heard that the woman, whose identity cannot be established for legal reasons, is an involuntary patient in the psychiatric ward of a particular hospital under the Mental Health Act 2001. When she was admitted to hospital in July, she weighed 36kg and had a body mass index of 14 – which the World Health Organization says is “dangerously low for anorexia nervosa”, the court heard.

An application was originally made to the High Court on 24 July on an ex parte basis (with only one party represented) for interim measures that would allow treatment including natural gas feeding and “elements affecting her autonomy”, including monitoring for voiding, restrictions on movement to prevent “micro-exercises” and fluid intake.

These orders were confirmed at a hearing on July 31.

On Wednesday, Donal McGuinness, BL for the HSE, said the woman’s health remained at “serious risk”. He said her BMI remained at 14 and her weight was under 36kg and she was resisting parts of the treatment.

“Unfortunately, if the court does not comply with the orders, it is unlikely that (the woman) will receive the nutrition she needs and the medical evidence suggests that her life is in imminent danger. In all probability she will die,” he said.

Emma Slattery, counsel for the woman’s guardian ad litem, presented a report from a psychiatrist independent of the HSE, which concluded that the woman had a “terrible fear of eating”, “lacked insight into her illness and that they had no choice but to support the orders sought by the HSE”.

Judge Heslin said the woman was “the most important” person in his court. When he asked her opinion on the orders sought, she said: “I don’t want to die… I don’t know what else I can say, Judge. I’m grateful for everyone’s help and I want to find myself again, not the anorexic person in me.” She asked for an “end date” to be set for the orders.

“I feel like I’m taking up a bed that someone sicker than me needs. I don’t think I deserve this. I miss my family, I miss my dog, and I miss my life. I’m screaming for help.”

In granting the orders, Judge Heslin said “no one deserved the bed more” than the woman. He thanked her for her contribution to the court, “presented with such clarity”. He said the restrictions on her autonomy should “never go further than is necessary for effective treatment” and once the woman’s capacity was “restored”, the orders should be relaxed.