OMEN
02-11-2009, 12:13 AM
A comatose Italian woman, who had been at the centre of a right-to-die case, has died in hospital three days after doctors disconnected her feeding tubes at her family's request.
Eluana Englaro, 38, had been in a coma since a car crash in 1992.
Her family's decision to ask doctors to stop feeding her was supported by Italy's highest court but opposed by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Mr Berlusconi issued an emergency decree ordering doctors to resume feeding the woman but the move was rejected as unconstitutional by President Giorgio Napolitano.
The legislation was being debated in the Italian Senate when news of the woman's death was announced.
Mr Berlusconi said in a statement he was 'deeply pained' to hear of Ms Englaro's death and was 'very sad that the government's attempts to save a life were rendered impossible'.
RTE
Eluana Englaro, 38, had been in a coma since a car crash in 1992.
Her family's decision to ask doctors to stop feeding her was supported by Italy's highest court but opposed by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Mr Berlusconi issued an emergency decree ordering doctors to resume feeding the woman but the move was rejected as unconstitutional by President Giorgio Napolitano.
The legislation was being debated in the Italian Senate when news of the woman's death was announced.
Mr Berlusconi said in a statement he was 'deeply pained' to hear of Ms Englaro's death and was 'very sad that the government's attempts to save a life were rendered impossible'.
RTE