France's legal battle over a man's life support

French doctors yesterday began switching off the life support of a quadriplegic man who has been in a vegetative state for the last decade, in a hugely controversial case that has divided France, the lawyer for his parents said.

The dispute over the fate of Vincent Lambert has split his own family and even become a subject of political tension in France ahead of the weekend’s European elections. His parents, who vehemently opposed ending his life, have repeatedly challenged court decisions to switch off the systems. But doctors had said the halt would start Monday following a final judicial ruling.

Jean Paillot, the lawyer for Vincent Lambert’s parents, said doctors at the hospital in Reims had begun switching off the systems Monday morning. “It is shameful, they (the parents) could not even embrace their son,” he told AFP.

 

Frances legal battle over a mans life support

French doctors yesterday began switching off the life support of a quadriplegic man who has been in a vegetative state for the last decade, in a hugely controversial case that has divided France, the lawyer for his parents said. The dispute over the fate of Vincent Lambert has split his own family and even become a subject of political tension in France ahead of the weekends European elections. His parents, who vehemently opposed ending his life, have repeatedly challenged court decisions to switch off the systems. But doctors had said the halt would start Monday following a final judicial ruling. Jean Paillot, the lawyer for Vincent Lamberts parents, said doctors at the hospital in Reims had begun switching off the systems Monday morning. It is shameful, they (the parents) could not even embrace their son, he told AFP.