Family fights for daily prayers

A devout Muslim family want a brain-damaged woman cared for at home so she can receive the "spiritual benefits" of daily prayer.

Syeda Ahsan, 48, is in a vegetative state after suffering two cardiac arrests after a hysterectomy operation at Leicester General Hospital in 2001.

The NHS hospital trust has recommended she stay at a nursing home.

But her family is asking the High Court in London to rule on whether she should be cared for at home or in a care home.

Daily prayers

The family argues that despite the higher costs, a home regime is a reasonable request as her husband has to drive a 40-mile (64km) round-trip every day to share prayers.

The annual cost of the preferred 24-hour home regime stood at £300,000 compared to £178,919 in the nursing home.

Her counsel, Elizabeth Anne Gumbel QC, said: "It is of concern to the family that ... her prayer regime ... should remain a part of her life for as long as she is alive."

Ms Gumbel asked Judge Hegarty QC to rule in favour of a home regime, whether on a 24-hour or eight-hour daily basis, rather than the cheaper alternative at Rushcliffe.

"We say it is reasonable because it is all that can be done - that money can do - to place her back in the situation where she was."

No criticism

Experts believe she will survive for another six years.

Her husband Dr Manazir Ahsan, 59, was a leading member of the Muslim Council of Britain and worked with Inter Faith Network UK, while his wife had taught the Koran to women and children in the area.

There was no criticism of the regime at Rushcliffe Nursing Home in Loughborough, Ms Gumbul said.

Philip Havers QC for the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, which admitted liability in March 2003, said there was also a question of whether clinicians would consider moving Mrs Ahsan home as being in her best interests.

If it was not deemed to be in her best interests, it would be an issue which needed to be resolved by the Family Division of the High Court.