The 13-years-old said She Wants To Die With Dignity

Hannah Jones, 13 years old, terminally-ill teenage has won the right to die after she was taken court by her local hospital in an attempt to force her to have a heart transplant against her wishes.

Hannah was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia at the age of five, and the subsequent high-strength drug treatment caused a hole in her heart.

The cancer treatment had to be stopped because of the damage it was doing to her heart. However harm was done and it was left so weak that it could give up at any time. Her family is hoping that she will be alive to see the Christmas.

Hannah said that she wanted to die with dignity. However the child protection services threatened to remove her from her parents' custody to make her have a surgery. She had been warned that the transplant could itself result in death while it would weaken her immune system. This will mean the return of leukemia she previously suffered from.

While the Hereford Hospital had already started the court proceedings, Hannah remained adamant she did not want any further treatment. The hospital had to finally back down. Hannah is now allowed to be left in peace. She can spend her remaining days with her parents and siblings Oliver 11, Lucy 10 and a four-year old Phoebe.

Hannah's father said "It is outrageous that the people from the hospital could presume we didn't have our daughter's best interests at heart. Hannah had been through enough already and to have the added stress of a possible court hearing or being forcibly taken into a hospital is disgraceful"

"It was hurtful to be accused of preventing her from doing anything, when everything we do is geared towards her happiness"

After eight years of being in and out of hospital, and with the prospect of further surgery and constant medication even if the transplant was successful, she decided she wanted to die with dignity and spend her remaining days at home.

Officers interviewed Hannah but she managed to convince them she did not want the transplant. Barristers at the High Court decided that she was old enough to make the decision for herself and the order was thrown out.

Mr Jones, an auditor, said they believe a locum GP, who was not familiar with the family, raised concerns over Hannah with the Child Protection Team at Hereford Hospital.

He said "I don't know exactly what Hannah said in that room but it must have been powerful enough to convince some very high up people that she was right.

"It is an incredible thing for a young person like her who has been through such a lot to have the presence of mind and bravery to stand up for her rights. We're so very proud of our little girl."

The family is currently battling to find an insurer so that Hannah can fulfill her dying wish to go to Disneyland in Florida.