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| Family right-to-die plea rejected | Family right-to-die plea rejected |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A woman in a vegetative state will be given a sleeping pill which may "wake her up" against her family's wishes. | A woman in a vegetative state will be given a sleeping pill which may "wake her up" against her family's wishes. |
| The 53-year-old, who has not been named, will be given zolpidem which early research has shown can bring people out of a vegetative state. | The 53-year-old, who has not been named, will be given zolpidem which early research has shown can bring people out of a vegetative state. |
| Her family do not want the test to go ahead, preferring to let her die, as she may be left seriously disabled. | Her family do not want the test to go ahead, preferring to let her die, as she may be left seriously disabled. |
| But Sir Mark Potter, head of the High Court's family division, ruled against their wishes earlier this month. | But Sir Mark Potter, head of the High Court's family division, ruled against their wishes earlier this month. |
| The drug proposal was put forward by Laurence Oates, the outgoing Official Solicitor, who suggested that zolpidem be prescribed, the Guardian newspaper reported. | The drug proposal was put forward by Laurence Oates, the outgoing Official Solicitor, who suggested that zolpidem be prescribed, the Guardian newspaper reported. |
| He [the Official Solicitor] believes that no stone should be left unturned in trying to save life Department for Constitutional Affairs spokesman | He [the Official Solicitor] believes that no stone should be left unturned in trying to save life Department for Constitutional Affairs spokesman |
| It is normally used to help insomnia but has been cited in a number of cases where it has caused patients in a permanent vegetative state (PVS) to wake up. | It is normally used to help insomnia but has been cited in a number of cases where it has caused patients in a permanent vegetative state (PVS) to wake up. |
| An improvement was seen within 20 minutes of taking the drug and wore off after four hours, when the patients restored to their permanent vegetative state. | An improvement was seen within 20 minutes of taking the drug and wore off after four hours, when the patients restored to their permanent vegetative state. |
| A spokesman for the Department for Constitutional Affairs said: "It is a very difficult situation. | A spokesman for the Department for Constitutional Affairs said: "It is a very difficult situation. |
| "The Official Solicitor, who represents the woman, came to a view that was opposite to the family. | "The Official Solicitor, who represents the woman, came to a view that was opposite to the family. |
| "He accepts that there are incredibly sensitive issues that need to be addressed with this family and the woman itself. | "He accepts that there are incredibly sensitive issues that need to be addressed with this family and the woman itself. |
| "But he also takes the view that there are other issues for other patients in this situation. | "But he also takes the view that there are other issues for other patients in this situation. |
| "He believes that no stone should be left unturned in trying to save life." | "He believes that no stone should be left unturned in trying to save life." |
| Drug | Drug |
| It is not known when the drug will be given to the woman, although the judgement only allows doctors to give a three-day course of the drug and they have been told they must stop if the woman starts to suffer. | |
| The woman was diagnosed as PVS after she suffered a brain haemorrhage while on holiday in August 2003. | The woman was diagnosed as PVS after she suffered a brain haemorrhage while on holiday in August 2003. |
| The newspaper said her family wanted her to die with dignity and not live with the disabilities zolpidem might cause. | The newspaper said her family wanted her to die with dignity and not live with the disabilities zolpidem might cause. |
| They are said to be in favour of removing the artificial feeding tube to let her die. | They are said to be in favour of removing the artificial feeding tube to let her die. |
| It is not the first time a PVS patient has caused ethical problems. | It is not the first time a PVS patient has caused ethical problems. |
| In 1993, the Law Lords ruled that Hillsborough stadium disaster victim Tony Bland could have his feeding tube removed. | In 1993, the Law Lords ruled that Hillsborough stadium disaster victim Tony Bland could have his feeding tube removed. |
| The 22-year-old was crushed and his brain starved of oxygen during the FA Cup semi-final disaster in April 1989, when 95 people died. | The 22-year-old was crushed and his brain starved of oxygen during the FA Cup semi-final disaster in April 1989, when 95 people died. |
| For nearly four years he was in a persistent vegetative state. | For nearly four years he was in a persistent vegetative state. |
| Charges | Charges |
| Doctors at Airedale Hospital in Steeton, West Yorkshire, insisted he would never recover. | Doctors at Airedale Hospital in Steeton, West Yorkshire, insisted he would never recover. |
| His parents fought a legal battle that went to the High Court, the Court of Appeal and finally the House of Lords for the right to lawfully withdraw their son's life-sustaining artificial feeding tube. | His parents fought a legal battle that went to the High Court, the Court of Appeal and finally the House of Lords for the right to lawfully withdraw their son's life-sustaining artificial feeding tube. |
| The House of Lords ruled that doctors could stop feeding Mr Bland, enabling the hospital to remove the tube without facing charges of murder. | The House of Lords ruled that doctors could stop feeding Mr Bland, enabling the hospital to remove the tube without facing charges of murder. |
| Timothy James, a medical law expert at the University of Central England, said the Bland case established a precedent enabling treatment to be withdrawn. | Timothy James, a medical law expert at the University of Central England, said the Bland case established a precedent enabling treatment to be withdrawn. |
| But he added if doctors could wake up someone they would then be able to ask them what they want. | But he added if doctors could wake up someone they would then be able to ask them what they want. |
| "It becomes their own decision." | "It becomes their own decision." |