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French doctors refuse to rule on fate of brain-damaged man French doctors refuse to rule on fate of brain-damaged man
(about 4 hours later)
The tortuous legal battle over the life or death of a severely brain-damaged man in France took a surprising turn on Thursday as doctors refrained from taking a decision on his fate, citing security fears.The tortuous legal battle over the life or death of a severely brain-damaged man in France took a surprising turn on Thursday as doctors refrained from taking a decision on his fate, citing security fears.
Related: Human rights court allows France to take tetraplegic man off life supportRelated: Human rights court allows France to take tetraplegic man off life support
The bitterly divided family of Vincent Lambert - who was left a quadriplegic with severe brain damage after a 2008 road accident - was expecting his medical team to rule on whether to stop the intravenous feeding keeping him alive. The bitterly divided family of Vincent Lambert, who was left a quadriplegic with severe brain damage after a 2008 road accident, was expecting his medical team to rule on whether to stop the intravenous feeding keeping him alive.
But doctors instead suspended the decision, the latest step in a marathon legal battle that has gone all the way to the European rights court and ignited a heated debate over euthanasia in France.But doctors instead suspended the decision, the latest step in a marathon legal battle that has gone all the way to the European rights court and ignited a heated debate over euthanasia in France.
In a statement the hospital said: “The conditions of calm and security necessary to continue this procedure are not in place, neither for Vincent Lambert nor his medical team.”In a statement the hospital said: “The conditions of calm and security necessary to continue this procedure are not in place, neither for Vincent Lambert nor his medical team.”
Lambert’s father, Pierre, told journalists that his son’s doctor had mentioned “a kidnap plot”, but said she wouldn’t go into details.Lambert’s father, Pierre, told journalists that his son’s doctor had mentioned “a kidnap plot”, but said she wouldn’t go into details.
Pro-life activists have called for Lambert or members of his medical team to be kidnapped in a blog circulating online.Pro-life activists have called for Lambert or members of his medical team to be kidnapped in a blog circulating online.
Doctors asked French prosecutors “to place Vincent under general protection and designate a guardian who could legally represent him,” said Lambert’s nephew Francois.Doctors asked French prosecutors “to place Vincent under general protection and designate a guardian who could legally represent him,” said Lambert’s nephew Francois.
“During the meeting, the ... doctors indicated that the decision to stop treatment could not be taken medically due to the threats and pressures they are under that prevent them from working peacefully,” he said.“During the meeting, the ... doctors indicated that the decision to stop treatment could not be taken medically due to the threats and pressures they are under that prevent them from working peacefully,” he said.
Francois, who is among those in favour of allowing Lambert to die, said the lack of a decision showed “that intimidation works, that threats work”.Francois, who is among those in favour of allowing Lambert to die, said the lack of a decision showed “that intimidation works, that threats work”.
Related: Brain-injured Frenchman's family post online video in fight to keep him aliveRelated: Brain-injured Frenchman's family post online video in fight to keep him alive
The case has pitted Lambert’s wife Rachel and six of his siblings - who insist the 38-year-old former psychiatric nurse would never have wanted to be kept alive artificially - against his devout Catholic parents in a bitter legal tug-of-war. The case has pitted Lambert’s wife Rachel and six of his siblings – who insist the 38-year-old former psychiatric nurse would never have wanted to be kept alive artificially – against his devout Catholic parents in a bitter legal tug-of-war.
Rachel said she was shocked by the decision.Rachel said she was shocked by the decision.
“I am totally confused. The European court and the state council gave their rulings and I was hoping for an end to this judicial process,” said his sobbing wife.“I am totally confused. The European court and the state council gave their rulings and I was hoping for an end to this judicial process,” said his sobbing wife.
Vincent’s mother, Viviane - who believes her son would improve with better care - said she was relieved. Vincent’s mother, Viviane, who believes her son would improve with better care, said she was relieved.
“It means they recognise that he is alive because they want to protect him,” she said.“It means they recognise that he is alive because they want to protect him,” she said.
The hospital said however that an evaluation of Lambert showed his condition was unchanged since he was examined by court-appointed experts in 2014 who ruled he was in an irreversible vegetative state.The hospital said however that an evaluation of Lambert showed his condition was unchanged since he was examined by court-appointed experts in 2014 who ruled he was in an irreversible vegetative state.
The Strasbourg-based European court of human rights in June ruled that Lambert should be allowed to die, in a blow to his parents and two other siblings who had launched a desperate attempt to stop doctors from cutting the intravenous food and water keeping him alive.The Strasbourg-based European court of human rights in June ruled that Lambert should be allowed to die, in a blow to his parents and two other siblings who had launched a desperate attempt to stop doctors from cutting the intravenous food and water keeping him alive.
Doctors launched a new consultation process after the rights court’s decision, this time including his parents.Doctors launched a new consultation process after the rights court’s decision, this time including his parents.
Lambert’s medical team had in January 2014 taken the initial decision to stop keeping him alive in line with a passive euthanasia law in France.Lambert’s medical team had in January 2014 taken the initial decision to stop keeping him alive in line with a passive euthanasia law in France.
Related: Legality of assisted dying changing around the worldRelated: Legality of assisted dying changing around the world
But this decision was taken without consulting his parents, who then won a court application to stop the plan, calling it “akin to torture”.But this decision was taken without consulting his parents, who then won a court application to stop the plan, calling it “akin to torture”.
In an appeal, the French supreme administrative court, known as the state council, ordered three doctors to draw up a report on Lambert’s condition and in June 2014 ruled that withdrawing care from a person with no hope of recovery was lawful.In an appeal, the French supreme administrative court, known as the state council, ordered three doctors to draw up a report on Lambert’s condition and in June 2014 ruled that withdrawing care from a person with no hope of recovery was lawful.
Lambert’s parents then took the case to Europe’s rights court which ruled the state council decision was “the object of a thorough investigation where all points of view were expressed and all aspects weighed long and hard”.Lambert’s parents then took the case to Europe’s rights court which ruled the state council decision was “the object of a thorough investigation where all points of view were expressed and all aspects weighed long and hard”.
Lambert’s case ignited a fierce debate around euthanasia in France where it remains illegal despite recent efforts to ease legislation dealing with the terminally ill - a campaign promise by President François Hollande. Lambert’s case ignited a fierce debate around euthanasia in France where it remains illegal despite recent efforts to ease legislation dealing with the terminally ill – a campaign promise by President François Hollande.
In March, lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in favour of a law allowing medics to place terminally ill patients in a deep sleep until they die.In March, lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in favour of a law allowing medics to place terminally ill patients in a deep sleep until they die.