The mother of a profoundly-disabled baby wept today as she pleaded with a High Court judge to lift his order allowing doctors not to artificially ventilate her daughter Charlotte in a life-threatening crisis.

Debbie Wyatt, 24, who is pregnant with her fourth child, today gave evidence for the first time in the long-running legal battle over Charlotte’s medical treatment. She told the judge: "I would just like the order lifted and have Charlotte home."

Mrs Wyatt and her husband Darren, 33, from Portsmouth, both went into the witness box of the London courtroom on the second day of a review of 23-month-old Charlotte’s case by Mr Justice Hedley, who made a "non-ventilation" declaration in October last year.

His order means that doctors would not be acting unlawfully if they decided not to ventilate Charlotte artificially in a life-threatening situation after concluding that it would not be in her best interests to do so.

Mr and Mrs Wyatt say that the condition of their daughter has improved to such an extent that she has now "crossed an invisible line", meaning that the use of artificial ventilation in certain circumstances would be justified.

Devout Christian Mr Wyatt also broke down in tears today as he described the "huge strain" placed on the couple by the existence of the order.

He told the judge: "I can’t cope if it carries on. If that order remains, I can’t cope."

At this stage the judge told Mr Wyatt that the history of the case could not be disregarded and pointed out that there had been "very serious difficulties between you and the hospital".

He added: "I am afraid that you cannot picture yourself as purely the victim in this case."

Mr Wyatt replied: "I believe that me and my wife are the victims."

Mr Justice Hedley said: "I know you believe that but not everyone sees it that way."

Mr Wyatt then said that Charlotte was the victim, to which the judge replied: "Most certainly. We can all agree on that."

The judge said: "My concern in this case is nothing to do with the day-to-day management of Charlotte, which is obviously carried out with great skill and with your support. It is the management of a crisis."

His concern was over what would happen if Charlotte suffered a "catastrophic respiratory collapse of some sort".

Mr Wyatt said that he and his wife would be able to sit down with the doctors to discuss Charlotte’s condition in a "civilised manner".

Mrs Wyatt told the court that she and her husband would never fight for treatment which would cause Charlotte suffering, but "if there is hope, we would want her ventilated".

Despite the gloomy prognosis last year, Charlotte, who is two on October 21, survived against the odds and medical opinion and is said to have made "remarkable progress" despite serious brain, lung and kidney damage.

She weighed just one pound and was only five inches long when she was born three months prematurely in October 2003 at St Mary’s Hospital in Portsmouth.

The judge later reserved his decision. It will be given at 11am next Friday.

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