Charlotte with her mother, Debbie, in hospital

Charlotte Wyatt weighed just one pound when she was born 11 months ago and has serious heart and lung problems.

Her parents say everything possible should be done to keep her alive.

Doctors at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust argue that she is in almost constant pain and unlikely ever to enjoy a tolerable life.

Oxygen supply

Darren, 32, and Debbie, 23, believe that, as she has survived this far, Charlotte must be given every assistance to help her live.

But doctors say Charlotte, who has been in hospital since her birth, will not survive beyond infancy because her lungs are so severely damaged.

Charlotte was born when her mother was 26 weeks pregnant and is fed through a tube as she cannot suck from a bottle.

She also needs a constant supply of oxygen.

It has all been very difficult for us Debbie Wyatt, Charlotte's mother The dilemma doctors face over denying treatment

Last week, Charlotte's father Darren Wyatt, 33, made an emotional plea to the judge not to allow the doctors to let her die.

He said: "When you get to the stage when you grow to love someone, you can't just throw them away like a bad egg and say you will get a different egg."

Good relationship

Mr Wyatt conceded that he would have to change his mind if the time came when the baby was really suffering.

"But I believe there are things in medical science to help her carry on, even for a couple of years, and she can even go outside and see the trees and whatever," he said.

Earlier this week, David Lock, counsel for the hospital, part of the Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, told the court a doctor had said she was "living in a plastic box" and that her life would be "dominated by pain and suffering".

Mr Lock summarised the trust consultants' findings by saying: "They are of the view that Charlotte has life-limiting conditions and that, despite their best efforts, she has no feelings other than continuing pain."