'Anorexics should not be allowed to starve themselves to death'

The woman's parents supported their daughter's cause - "it upsets us greatly to advocate for our daughter's right to die," they said in a statement, "we love her dearly but [...] we strongly feel [she should have] the right to choose her own path, free from restraint and fear of enforced re-feed."

Others believe the judge's decision is the equivalent of giving a cancer patient chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy, arguing that, with treatment, she could get better. The Mail's Liz Jones agrees: "while [the woman's parents] might be well-intentioned, they are terribly misguided. Their daughter is not [...] in her 90s, in pain, trapped in her bed and begging for release. She is not a quadriplegic [...] she could get better, but not if she is allowed to starve herself to death while in the grip of a mental illness."

Recovering anorexic Rachael Johnston, 20, disagrees with Jones. "She should have the right to die." Rachael was force-fed with a nasal tube at the age of 15. "I was told if I pulled it out I would be sectioned and that would mean my life would be over and I would never get a job or have a proper life." Unlike the legal ruling woman's parents, however, Rachael's mom was adamant her daughter be force-fed. "I am glad to be alive," Rachael admits. "I turn 21 in August. I'm already planning my party!" Where there's breath, there's hope, the Daily Mail says.

Read the full article on www.iol.co.za.