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Irish court OKs taking clinically dead pregnant woman off life support

"[The court] is satisfied, in the circumstances of this case, that it is in the best interests of the unborn child," one of the judges said.

By Brooks Hays

DUBLIN, Ireland, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Irish judges have given doctors the go-ahead to take a brain-dead pregnant woman off life support, in accordance with the wishes of her family. Because Ireland's constitution offers full rights to unborn children, doctors worried they might be held accountable for the child's death.

On Friday, the three judges of the Dublin High Court, Justices Nicholas Kearns, Marie Baker and Caroline Costello, ruled that doctors could follow through on the family's instructions.

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"[The court] is satisfied, in the circumstances of this case, that it is in the best interests of the unborn child; it should authorize at the discretion of the medical team the withdrawal of ongoing somatic support being provided in this tragic and unfortunate case," Kearns said in the decision.

Doctors and health experts testified the fetus, just 18 weeks developed (15 weeks gestation), was unlikely to survive. Because the woman is brain-dead, her body is likely to continue to break down, endangering the child more and more as time goes on. The intravenous nutrients have been enough to keep the woman's lungs and heart working, but it is no substitute for the diet required to ensure the healthy development of a fetus.

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The woman's partner, parents and extended family will now be able to bury her and her unborn child "with dignity," as they had requested first of the doctors and more recently of the high court.

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