The clinic denies that it influenced Mr U

"It is a most unusual case because one finds an allegation of undue influence against a medical authority, not where they had sought to be greedy or selfish, but sought to impose deeply-held moral views on a patient.

"At the heart of the case is Mrs U's conviction that they imposed their beliefs upon her husband in a manner that was legally improper".

Mr and Mrs U wanted to have a family and Mr U underwent an unsuccessful operation to reverse his vasectomy.

Undue influence

An operation was then performed to remove his sperm and the couple tried to achieve a pregnancy by in vitro fertilisation (IVF), but their initial attempt failed.

Before Mrs U could engage in a follow-up appointment, her husband died suddenly.

Contesting the appeal, Angus Moon, counsel for the centre, told the court: "My submission is that Mr U did have a choice and he did exercise it."

He rejected the allegation of undue influence.

The court reserved judgment at the end of legal argument.