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Seriously ill girl allowed to die Seriously ill girl allowed to die
(about 1 hour later)
A terminally ill girl has won the right to refuse treatment after a hospital ended its bid to force her to have a heart transplant.A terminally ill girl has won the right to refuse treatment after a hospital ended its bid to force her to have a heart transplant.
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 (PCT) dropped a High Court case after a child protection officer said Hannah Jones was adamant she did not want surgery.
Hannah, 13, of Marden, near Hereford, said she wanted to die with dignity.Hannah, 13, of Marden, near Hereford, said she wanted to die with dignity.
Her father Andrew said he and his wife supported her decision but they had been upset by the PCT's actions.
He said Hereford County Hospital's child protection team had contacted them in February threatening to remove Hannah from their care if they did not bring her to hospital for the operation.
The threat that somebody could come and forcibly remove your daughter from you... was quite upsetting really Andrew Jones
Hannah, who has a hole in her heart, had been offered a transplant in July 2007 but said she did not want to go through with it after taking advice from doctors, Mr Jones said.
She said the operation might not work, and if it did work, it would be followed by constant medication.She said the operation might not work, and if it did work, it would be followed by constant medication.
Hannah, who has a hole in her heart, 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.
Parents 'proud' She said she wanted to stop treatment and spend the rest of her life at home and the PCT subsequently withdrew its legal action.
She said she wanted to stop treatment and spend the rest of her life at home. Mr Jones said: "The threat that somebody could come and forcibly remove your daughter from you against her wishes, against our wishes, was quite upsetting really."
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." Holiday cancelled
He added: "We didn't get too involved in (Hannah's) decision.
"Hannah made that decision consciously on her own, a bit like a grown up, even though she was only 12 at the time and she has maintained that decision.
"How she coped with it, what her mind was thinking at the time, I've got great admiration for her in that and, as I said, we have to support her and her decision."
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programmeFROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
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."
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 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.
Holiday cancelled
Last week her father was forced to cancel plans to take her to Disneyland because he could not get insurance for her.Last week her father was forced to cancel plans to take her to Disneyland because he could not get insurance for her.
The family had been given the holiday to the US by the charity Cauldwell Children.The family had been given the holiday to the US by the charity Cauldwell Children.
Dr Tony Calland, chairman of the British Medical Association's ethics committee, said a child of Hannah's age was able to make an informed decision to refuse treatment.Dr Tony Calland, chairman of the British Medical Association's ethics committee, said a child of Hannah's age was able to make an informed decision to refuse treatment.
He said the House of Lords had ruled in the 1980s that a child who understood the issues and consequences could be considered legally competent.He said the House of Lords had ruled in the 1980s that a child who understood the issues and consequences could be considered legally competent.
It followed the case of Victoria Gillick who took her health authority to court claiming she should be informed if her daughters were prescribed contraception.It followed the case of Victoria Gillick who took her health authority to court claiming she should be informed if her daughters were prescribed contraception.
Hannah's parents reportedly said they believed a locum GP raised concerns over Hannah with the child protection team. It was reported that in Hannah's case, the trust intervened after a locum GP raised concerns over her with the child protection team.
Dr Calland said he understood why a doctor might have taken this action.Dr Calland said he understood why a doctor might have taken this action.
He said: "I think some doctors take the view that they must intervene and they are making that decision in what they see as the best interests of the patient.He said: "I think some doctors take the view that they must intervene and they are making that decision in what they see as the best interests of the patient.
"But of course best interests of patients is not just the best medical interests - it's the overall holistic interests of the person in general. "But of course best interests of patients is not just the best medical interests - it's the overall holistic interests of the person in general."
"I think in this particular case it's obvious that the parents and the child had made a perfectly reasonable decision and the doctor obviously came to a different view and was trying to use the law to support his view. He added: "I think obviously a child of 13 with these circumstances should be perfectly capable of making the decision and particularly when supported by the parents."
"I think obviously a child of 13 with these circumstances should be perfectly capable of making the decision and particularly when supported by the parents.
"But of course there have been cases where parents have successfully supported the child and that is not in the best interests of the child."
Have you been affected by issues raised in this story?Have you been affected by issues raised in this story?
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