UK High Court lifts order against resuscitating brain-damaged baby News
UK High Court lifts order against resuscitating brain-damaged baby

[JURIST] The parents of a brain-damaged girl in the United Kingdom won a partial victory Friday when a High Court judge lifted a non-resuscitation order [JURIST report] if she were to fall seriously ill. The judge's decision came on the second birthday of Charlotte Wyatt [BBC profile], who has never left the hospital since she was born prematurely in 2003. The judge said that doctors still have the final say in making any decision which would result in ending Charlotte's life if it is in her best interest, but the court said her parents must be consulted before such action is taken. The judge cautioned the doctors treating Charlotte to "rely on their conscience," which means they do not need to take orders from her parents, but must consider the family's wishes before making any decisions. Last year, a terminally-ill baby named Luke Winston-Jones [BBC profile] died [BBC report] after a similar non-resuscitation ruling by the High Court [JURIST report]. BBC News has more.