Eileen's brother died from the same disease two years ago

Eileen Doran, 31, who is from an Irish travelling family, has the incurable brain disease mitochondria cytopathy.

Doctors at the Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery believe she is unaware of her surroundings.

Mr Justice Coleridge reserved judgement after hearing from her relatives who believe her condition will improve.

If I didn't think there was any hope I would be more interested in her dying with dignity Barbara O'Hare, cousin

Eileen is suffering from the same rare disease which killed her brother, Miley, when he was 17, two years ago.

The case was referred to the High Court in London to review an earlier decision allowing doctors not to resuscitate Ms Doran if she stops breathing.

The hospital say she is already in a persistent vegetative state and will never improve.

But her father, Peter Doran, 53, told the court on Wednesday that his daughter responds to their prompts to open her eyes.

He told the judge: "The doctors are only with her for minutes. If they stayed with her longer, they would see. How can she be brain damaged when she can do what we tell her to do?

"My daughter is a fighter and would want treatment because she does not want to die."

No cure

Ms Doran's cousin, Barbara O'Hare, told the court she believed she had tried to speak to her 10 days ago.

"I am not dreaming, I am being real and I know what I am saying. If I didn't think there was any hope I would be more interested in her dying with dignity," she told the court.

The hospital has withdrawn its application for a declaration from the court that doctors should withhold potentially life-saving antibiotics should she develop an infection.

Instead, doctors will be able to decide whether to use antibiotics for certain infections after consultation with the family.