A terminally-ill girl has won the right to die after a hospital ended its bid to force her to have a heart operation.
A terminally-ill girl has won the right to die after a hospital ended its bid to force her to have a heart operation.
Herefordshire Primary Care Trust dropped a High Court case after a child protection officer said Hannah Jones was adamant she did not want surgery.
Herefordshire Primary Care Trust dropped a High Court case after a child protection officer said Hannah Jones was adamant she did not want surgery.
The 13-year-old, from Marden, has refused a heart transplant because it might not work and, if it did, would be followed by constant medication.
The 13-year-old, from Marden, has refused a heart transplant because it might not work and, if it did, would be followed by constant medication.
The girl, who has a hole in her heart, says she wants to die with dignity.
The girl, who has a hole in her heart, says she wants to die with dignity.
Hannah was interviewed by the child protection officer after the trust applied for a court order in February to force the transplant.
Hannah was interviewed by the child protection officer after the trust applied for a court order in February to force the transplant.
She said she wanted to stop treatment and spend the rest of her life at home.
She said she wanted to stop treatment and spend the rest of her life at home.
The BBC's Jane Deith, who has followed Hannah's legal battle, said: "Hannah managed to convince this officer that this was a decision she had made on her own and she had thought about it over a long period of time, and eventually the court proceeding was dropped."
The BBC's Jane Deith, who has followed Hannah's legal battle, said: "Hannah managed to convince this officer that this was a decision she had made on her own and she had thought about it over a long period of time, and eventually the court proceeding was dropped."
Parents 'proud'
Parents 'proud'
Our reporter said that the girl's parents supported her decision and were "very proud of her".
Our reporter said that the girl's parents supported her decision and were "very proud of her".
"She didn't take the decision lightly, and she had chosen that she wanted to live and die in dignity at home with her parents."
"She didn't take the decision lightly, and she had chosen that she wanted to live and die in dignity at home with her parents."
The Daily Telegraph quoted Hannah's father Andrew, 43, as saying: "It is outrageous that the people from the hospital could presume we didn't have our daughter's best interests at heart.
The Daily Telegraph quoted Hannah's father Andrew, 43, as saying: "It is outrageous that the people from the hospital could presume we didn't have our daughter's best interests at heart.
"Hannah had been through enough already and to have the added stress of a possible court hearing or being forcibly taken into hospital is disgraceful."
"Hannah had been through enough already and to have the added stress of a possible court hearing or being forcibly taken into hospital is disgraceful."
Hannah previously suffered from leukaemia and her heart has been weakened by drugs she was required to take from the age of five.
Hannah previously suffered from leukaemia and her heart has been weakened by drugs she was required to take from the age of five.
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