Brain-damaged woman 'can smile'

A woman with profound brain damage, whose family want her to be allowed to die, sometimes displays a "bit of a smile" when teased about men, the High Court was told by a carer yesterday.

The 51-year-old, who is "minimally conscious", also made a different sound if carers joked about a man being good looking, Mr Justice Baker heard. Relatives of the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, want the Court of Protection to order an end to her artificial feeding.

A lawyer appointed to represent her interests opposes the move, saying she "has signs of awareness". The case continues.