Lambert v. France
European Court of Human Rights
Application no. 46043/14 (2015)
- Written by Kelly Simon, JD
Facts
Vincent Lambert suffered significant head injuries in an automobile accident, leaving him with quadriplegia and in a state of dependency. Five years after the accident, Lambert’s physician began end-of-life consultation procedures, including communicating with multiple physicians and Lambert’s family members. After the consultations, the physician determined that to stop providing artificial nutrition and hydration to Lambert was appropriate. Lambert’s parents, Pierre and Viviane Lambert (plaintiffs), made an urgent application to the Conseil d’État, the French judicial court for administrative justice, to block the physician’s decision and ensure the continued provision of nutrition and hydration to their son. The Conseil d’État determined the physician’s decision to withdraw nutrition and hydration was lawful. The Lamberts filed a case against France (defendant) with the European Court of Human Rights, arguing that the French government was violating their son’s right to life as protected by the European Convention on Human Rights (the convention). The decision of the Conseil d’État was stayed until the European Court of Human Rights completed its deliberations.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Per curiam)
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