The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) handed down its decision Friday in the case of Vincent Lambert. It validates the decision of the French Council of State which had expressed support for the cessation of feeding and hydration of quadriplegic. The France is not condemned.
This is the first time the European court to rule on the end of life. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has validated this Friday stopped caring for Vincent Lambert, in accordance with the decision of the French Council of State. The France is not condemned and may authorize the interruption of treatments that artificially keep alive the quadriplegic 38 years in a vegetative state since 2008.
The European court ruled against parents, a sister and a half brother of Vincent Lambert denouncing, in this programmed death, a violation of the "right to life" and "inhuman and degrading treatment." The wife of Vincent Lambert, five of his siblings and a nephew asked instead that the patient may die "with dignity", on the advice of his doctors and that it would, according to them, desired. The Council of State considered that the continued Vincent Lambert of life was within "unreasonable obstinacy".
The ECHR judgment is final. It could now set a precedent for all Member States of the European Union.
