DOCTORS at a North-East health trust have won the legal right not to intervene to save a desperately ill young girl if she collapses - against the wishes of her family.

The parents of the child, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, said a failure to resuscitate her would amount to "murder".

But senior family judge, Mr Justice Cobb, sided with County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, whose lawyers had sought a ruling that medics need not step in and resuscitate her, should she suffer a devastating collapse.

The girl, who is aged under ten, is "profoundly neurologically disabled", needs feeding by tube, requires oxygen supplements and has been in the care of Durham County Council since the summer of last year, the family court heard.

"The unanimous medical opinion is that, even with the best care in the world, she remains at significant risk of sudden and unexpected death", explained the judge.

One specialist had testified that she could "collapse at any time" with sudden heart failure and could well die within the next few months.

Overall, she shows "minimal awareness" of the world around her, and even a smile once spotted on her face could well have been no more than a muscular spasm.

The judge was told that if the girl suffered a major collapse, the chance of successful resuscitation would be "virtually nil" and she would be left reliant on a ventilator and in a state of chronic pain.

The trust's case was backed by Durham County Council - but implacably opposed by the girl's parents, who said a failure to resuscitate her would amount to "murder".

The father claimed his daughter's health had deteriorated in NHS care and urged that a final decision should be put on hold for six months.

Mr Justice Cobb said he respected the parental views, noting that they clearly loved their child deeply.

However, he also noted that their recent contact with her had been limited and found that the girl had received the best possible medical care.

Upholding the trust's arguments, the judge concluded: "I am satisfied that it is in her best interests that I should grant the declarations sought."

The judge's ruling means that medics now have a broad "clinical discretion" as to how best treat the girl - despite her parents' views.

If she suffers a heart attack or other catastrophic event, doctors can lawfully decide not to resuscitate her.

A spokesperson for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust confirmed it had been involved in the case.

"In its final judgment the court has confirmed that appropriate clinical care has been provided to the patient and that the treating team are at liberty to treat her in accordance with their clinical discretion. It would not be appropriate to comment in any further detail,” said a spokesperson.