Pierre Lambert, the father of Vincent Lambert, denounced Sunday the "assassination" in progress of his son, in a vegetative state for more than 10 years, whose treatments that keep him alive were arrested this week.
"It's a disguised assassination"
"It's a disguised assassination, a euthanasia," Pierre Lambert told reporters when he arrived at the CHU Sevastopol in Reims, before going to his son's bedside. His wife Viviane Lambert arrived by car at the same time without making a statement, AFP found. A few minutes later, David Philippo, Vincent's half-brother, and Anne Lambert, his sister, arrived in their car.
Vincent Lambert's doctor, a tetraplegic patient in a vegetative state, victim of a road accident in 2008 and the symbol of the end-of-life debate in France, called for a further treatment cut on Tuesday, made possible on 28 June by the Court of Cassation. This medical protocol includes the stopping of hydration and nutrition by patient probe, as well as "deep and continuous sedation".
Years of judicial battle
Seeing in this decision a "madness", his parents, who believe that their son is disabled and must be placed in a specialized institution, have increased attempts to interrupt the process. But after the rejection by the Administrative Court of Chalons-en-Champagne of a new appeal in urgency, their chances of seeing their request succeed are dwindling. On his Facebook page, the group "I support Vincent", also opposed to the cessation of treatment, called for a rally in Paris Monday afternoon, in the presence of Me Jerome Triomphe and Jean Paillot, the parents' lawyers.
Vincent Lambert's family is torn apart by years of legal battle. His wife Rachel is supported by six brothers and sisters and a nephew of Vincent, François Lambert, who intend to put an end to this "fierce therapy" and claim that the former psychiatric nurse had taken a stand in this direction. Vincent Lambert however did not leave an advance directive.