A Brain Damaged Woman is Allowed to Die
07/03/2007
I would like to thank you and your colleagues for the kindness shown to myself and my wife. I class myself as very fortunate to have met such kind and caring people.
Raymond, Hertfordshire
Brain Damaged Woman Allowed to Die
A woman who suffered profound brain damage after a cycling accident on holiday has been given the right to die by a senior High Court judge.
It was four years ago when the tragic accident happened. The woman, who can not be named, was cycling by the sea on holiday in Turkey when she fell into the water. She was found unconscious and suffered a great amount of brain damage after suffering a cardiac arrest which is associated with drowning.
Sir Mark Potter, Family Division President, revealed his decision on 17 January 2007 that the doctor caring for the woman who was in a permanent vegetative state could withdraw the life-sustaining treatment.
After the accident, the woman showed steady signs of recovery and was able to utter short sentences, recognise family and friends and could even repeat some words in French. But despite the care her husband and doctors offered her, her state gradually worsened. She became infected with MRSA and in 2005 she moved into a vegetative state and needed feeding through a tube.
An application was made by the family, hospital and trust for the permission to withdraw the treatment which was keeping her alive. The family believed she would not herself wish to remain alive in her present condition, and Sir Potter agreed.
The woman and her husband had retired early so that they could do more sailing together. The judge was saddened by the effects of the tragic accident and a situation where the devotion of her family, combined with intensive medical treatment was not enough to help her.
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