Family torn apart over Lambert case

THE CASE of Vincent Lambert - said to be in a “vegetative” state after a motorbike accident – has been thrown into the spotlight again as two sides to his family published contradictory opinion pieces in the national press.

One side wants France to put pressure on the European Court of Human Rights to let doctors allow Mr Lambert to die by withdrawing food and drink from him.

The other accuses medical teams of neglect and wants them to treat him with more optimism and dignity – with physiotherapy, sensory stimulation, changes in environment etc.

Supported by France’s top administrative court the Conseil d’Etat, the CHU de Reims hospital previously decided to stop “treatment” for Mr Lambert – consisting of administering food and drink. Mr Lambert’s wife supported the move.

However, his parents and two brothers and sisters applied to the European Court of Human Rights to override it, and in June the court ordered he be kept alive pending further investigations to decide on whether the relatives’ request is acceptable.

Now, in Le Monde, a sister and half-sister and a nephew of Mr Lambert, supported by celebrities like Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and left-wing politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon, are calling for France to put an ultimatum to the court demanding it acts quickly.

“It must allow the medical team to stop his treatments, in the respect of dignity, French and international law,” the piece says.

The family members fear the case dragging on in the court and state that they wish the matter to be brought to a close by the end of the year.

They say: “If the request is found to be acceptable, the applicants will then have three months to apply to the Great Chamber of the court, which will mean a new trial, even more cumbersome to put in place.”

At the same time, in Le Figaro, a sister and half-brother of Mr Lambert accuse doctors of treating him like a “dead man in waiting” and demand that they work out a programme of care, that they say is what is usually done in cases like his.

“We are deeply upset by Vincent’s state and by the faults and refusal of care of which he has been a victim for almost two years, and by the deliberate will, and maneouvering to have him euthanised by force, including by some members of his own family.”

They also contest the term “vegetative”, saying “certain specialists” deny it is applicable. “He sleeps, wakes up, sometimes follows people around him with his eyes, reacts to certain requests, and is connected up to no machine, receives no treatment that would keep him alive. He only needs food and drink.”

They claim the doctors have been supported by people who “under a show of being humanitarian, have used Vincent’s case... for political and legal ends”.

The case, along with that of Dr Nicolas Bonnemaison who was acquitted of poisoning patients, has reignited debate on euthanasia in France.

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