W Healthcare NHS Trust v H and Another [2004]

A 59-year-old lady suffering from multiple sclerosis. Patient was severely disabled but not in permanent vegetative state. Her family appealed against a refusal of an order allowing the doctors to bring her life to an end. Re-insertion of percutaneous gastrostomy tube opposed by patient's family.

Judgment: The judge came to the conclusion that at present state he cannot say that life prolonging treatment would provide no benefit, and death by, in effect, starvation would be even less dignified than the death which she will face in due course if kept artifically alive for more weeks or months.