Judge rejects parents' bid over baby

The parents of a gravely ill baby girl lost their latest legal bid yesterday to overturn a court ruling that allowed doctors to refuse her life-saving treatment.

High Court Judge Justice Hedley rejected Darren and Debbie Wyatt's plea to overturn his earlier ruling, saying it would not be in the best interests of baby Charlotte. The Wyatts argued their 18-month-old daughter has a chance of survival and that Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust should do everything possible to keep her alive.

Charlotte was born prematurely at 26 weeks and weighed just 458g. She suffered severe brain, heart and lung damage and doctors have said she has "no feelings other than continuing pain".

But, Darren, 32, and Debbie, 23, said that contrary to all expectations of doctors, baby Charlotte was reacting to human contact by smiling and kicking and does not need as much medication as she did when the original ruling was made.

The judge said he understood the parents' view, which was supported by one doctor, but declared the weight of medical opinion was against them. Specialists have said Charlotte was unlikely to survive infancy. "I am quite clear that it would not be in Charlotte's best interests to die in the course of futile aggressive treatment," he said.

Charlotte's life should be nurtured and protected up until the point she needs intensive invasive care, he added.

A spokesman for Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust said doctors would maintain a dialogue with the Wyatts over the care of their daughter.