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| Seriously ill girl allowed to die | Seriously ill girl allowed to die |
| (19 minutes 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 (PCT) 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. | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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 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 and the PCT subsequently withdrew its legal action. | She said she wanted to stop treatment and spend the rest of her life at home and the PCT subsequently withdrew its legal action. |
| 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." | 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." |
| Holiday cancelled | Holiday cancelled |
| He added: "We didn't get too involved in (Hannah's) decision. | 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. | "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." | "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." |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| It was reported that in Hannah's case, the trust intervened after a locum GP raised concerns over her 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." |
| 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." | 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." |
| Have you been affected by issues raised in this story? | Have you been affected by issues raised in this story? |
| Send your comments using the post form below, or text 61124. | Send your comments using the post form below, or text 61124. |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |