THE judge acknowledged he was making a momentous decision, and few would have wished to take his place. After much deliberation, Mr Justice Hedley ruled that tiny Charlotte Wyatt should be allowed to die.

Reluctantly accepting his verdict, Charlotte's parents Darren and Debbie said today: "At least we'll know we did everything we could for her."

There is huge public sympathy for the couple. All parents know that they would fight every scrap of the way to save a child of their own.

Nevertheless, the judge made the right decision.

That is also the view of York mum Caroline Hardy. She understands what Charlotte's mother and father are feeling. Her own daughter was also born premature, weighing only 1lb 15oz.

Caroline feels great empathy for the Wyatt family. Yet she encapsulates the case for letting Charlotte die in a single sentence: "It's not about what's best for the parents; it's what's best for the little girl."

That Charlotte survived at all is due to astonishing medical advances. But this was only half a miracle. The life the doctors saved was always going to be short and agonising.

Further invasive procedures would only have caused more suffering to a tiny baby. The High Court ruling will allow Charlotte to be released from pain.

While science keeps extending human life, we will face more momentous decisions. We hope those charged with making them are as compassionate and wise as Mr Justice Hedley.

Updated: 09:20 Friday, October 08, 2004