New court blow for baby Charlotte's parents

The parents of seriously-ill Charlotte Wyatt have lost the latest round of their battle to overturn a court order allowing doctors not to resuscitate the 22-month-old if she stops breathing.

Darren Wyatt, 33, and his wife, Debbie, 24, who have been told by the hospital treating their daughter that she has made "remarkable progress", failed to persuade the Court of Appeal the order should now be rescinded.

Doctors at St Mary's Hospital in Portsmouth won the legal right last October not to resuscitate Charlotte after arguing that her brain and other organs were so seriously damaged she had "no feeling other than continuing pain".

Mr Justice Hedley, who granted the order, said he did not believe "any further aggressive treatment, even if necessary to prolong her life, is in her best interests".

Against the odds and medical opinion, she survived the winter.

In April this year, Charlotte's parents failed to have the October judgment overturned, leading to today's proceedings.

After a full-day hearing, Lords Justices Laws, Wall and Lloyd rejected the couple's appeal.

But the judges said a review of the case ordered by Mr Justice Hedley should be "accelerated", with a directions hearing next month.

Lord Justice Laws said the court "attached a high importance to the up-to-date position being properly investigated" with a view to a decision on whether the order should "now continue".

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