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| Italian coma battle woman dies | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Eluana Englaro, the Italian woman at the centre of a right-to-die debate, has died, the health minister has said. | Eluana Englaro, the Italian woman at the centre of a right-to-die debate, has died, the health minister has said. |
| Maurizio Sacconi made the announcement during a debate in Italy's Senate over an emergency government decree to stop doctors withdrawing her life support. | Maurizio Sacconi made the announcement during a debate in Italy's Senate over an emergency government decree to stop doctors withdrawing her life support. |
| Ms Englaro, 38, had been in a vegetative state since being injured in a car crash in 1992. | Ms Englaro, 38, had been in a vegetative state since being injured in a car crash in 1992. |
| Doctors at a private clinic in the northern city of Udine had been withholding her food since Friday. | Doctors at a private clinic in the northern city of Udine had been withholding her food since Friday. |
| They had earlier said Ms Englaro might live for another two weeks. | They had earlier said Ms Englaro might live for another two weeks. |
| Ms Englaro's father, Beppino, had been battling with the courts in Italy to let his daughter die since 1999, insisting it was her wish. | Ms Englaro's father, Beppino, had been battling with the courts in Italy to let his daughter die since 1999, insisting it was her wish. |
| Italy's centre-right Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi drafted a decree last week to prevent doctors from letting her die, but President Giorgio Napolitano refused to sign it. | Italy's centre-right Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi drafted a decree last week to prevent doctors from letting her die, but President Giorgio Napolitano refused to sign it. |
| The government's move sparked fury among centre-left opposition politicians, who accused it of trying to exploit the case. | The government's move sparked fury among centre-left opposition politicians, who accused it of trying to exploit the case. |
| Ms Englaro was previously cared for at a church-run hospital in Lecco, but was transferred to La Quiete clinic in Udine last week, after it said it would receive her and allow her to die. | Ms Englaro was previously cared for at a church-run hospital in Lecco, but was transferred to La Quiete clinic in Udine last week, after it said it would receive her and allow her to die. |
| The Vatican described the transfer as "abominable" and tantamount to murder. | The Vatican described the transfer as "abominable" and tantamount to murder. |
| Italy does not allow euthanasia. Patients have a right to refuse treatment, but they are not allowed to give advance directions on the treatment they wish to receive if they become unconscious. | Italy does not allow euthanasia. Patients have a right to refuse treatment, but they are not allowed to give advance directions on the treatment they wish to receive if they become unconscious. |