A 90-YEAR-OLD woman suffering from a number of ailments eventually refused further treatment or to take food or drink.

An inquest heard that Martha Atterbury took her defiant stand when doctors wanted to carry out further intervention surgery.

But four weeks later she died after her family supported her wishes and said they did not want her to be "messed about".

Mrs Atterbury, was taken to hospital after a fall at Beech Grove Nursing Home, Lowmoor, Clitheroe.

She had suffered a fractured hip which required surgery from which she appeared to make a good recovery. However, before she could be returned to the nursing home Mrs Atterbury complained of a chest pain and a pulmonary embolism was subsequently diagnosed.

She later developed acute pain in the abdomen which was diagnosed as cancer of the colon, a diagnosis confirmed by the post-mortem examination.

Doctors wanted to make further investigations but Dr Kumar Zupendra said Mrs Atterbury refused.

"She was adamant she did not want to be investigated any further and refused any further treatment," said Dr Zupendra.

"Over the next few days she suffered further collapses and her condition deteriorated. She refused to have food, drink or medication."

It was decided that no resuscitation would be undertaken and Mrs Atterbury died on August 29.