The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that a French coma patient can be allowed to die. Vincent Lambert has been in a coma in a hospital in Reims for the past seven years following catastrophic injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident. Members of his family, divided over the issue of withdrawing life support, contested a court case in 2014 which saw Lambert’s wife and some siblings arguing for the withdrawal, against the man’s parents, who are devout Catholics. Doctors treating Lambert backed those wishing to end life support, arguing that the patient has no hope of recovery, while his parents argued that he suffers from a handicap, and not an incurable condition.

The case prompted a national debate on the issue of euthanasia, which remains illegal in France, though the court subsequently ruled, in June 2014, that life support could be ended by so-called ‘passive euthanasia’, in keeping with current legislation.

This judgement led to the taking of a case by Lambert’s parents to the ECHR, which has now ruled that ending the patient’s life support is not a violation of Europe’s rights laws. Lambert’s parents have vowed to contest this latest judgement and are working to secure a new medical opinion on their son from an independent team of doctors.