A judge at the High Court in London has refused to allow doctors to withdraw treatment from a severely disabled baby at the heart of a landmark right-to-life case.

Mr Justice Holman said that doctors must continue to treat the 17-month-old boy, known only as baby MB, who is virtually paralysed by spinal muscular atrophy, a rare degenerative genetic disorder.

The hospital applied for permission to switch off his ventilator, arguing that the child had an "intolerable life".

The child's parents, from the North of England, challenged the application, telling the court that although their son had lain near-motionless since the seventh week of life, he was aware of his surroundings. He enjoyed films such as Toy Story and Shrek like any other child - but fell asleep to EastEnders and the news, they said.

In a detailed judgement which lasted for more than two hours, Mr Justice Holman told the court that he had been swayed by the parents' arguments. He said he was convinced that, for the moment at least, the pleasure baby MB was able to derive from life outweighed the potential pain he was suffering.

"Very sadly indeed he has now reached a point where, save for movement of his eyes and possible slight but barely perceptible movement of his eyebrows, corners of his mouth, thumb and toes or feet he cannot move at all.

"It is obvious that there is a vast range of early childhood experiences, pleasures, moods and emotions that are simply not available to him: the pleasure of crawling and exploring, the intensive pleasure of the first wobbly steps, the pleasure of rough and tumble and of mixing with other children, and the pleasure of messily eating ...

"But the absence of these pleasures still leaves him with a core of pleasure, including what is probably the single most important source of pleasure and emotion to a small child, his relationship with his parents and family."

The judge conceded that baby MB is probably going to die within a year, perhaps much sooner. He added: "There may come a time when this child's parents face the possibility that withdrawing ventiliation might be in his best interest, but today... that would not be the best decision."

The verdict was greeted with relief by the child's parents. The child's father put his head in his hands as it became clear that the boy was to be given the opportunity of a few more months of life.

A solicitor for the parents said in a statement that they felt "vindicated" by the judgment. She said that their son's "benefits and pleasures outweighed the discomforts of hospital".

She added: "Baby MB is aware of his surroundings. Like many children his age he enjoys being read to, listening to music and watching cartoons on television. He enjoys playing with his parents and his brother and sister. He is now able to show his likes and his dislikes.

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