Charlotte Wyatt, the chronically-ill baby whose parents refuse to let her die, should be kept alive so there will be more time to discuss her fate, a doctor told the high court today.

Consultant paediatrician "Dr G" - called as an expert witness in the dispute over whether Charlotte's medical team should be allowed not to resuscitate her if she stops breathing - advised the parents in favour of non-resuscitation.

But because Darren and Debbie Wyatt strongly disagreed, the baby should be ventilated by way of a tracheostomy so that further discussions could take place, he said.

Dr G - who has been granted anonymity like all the medical witnesses in the case to avoid harassment by pro-life lobbyists - said parents in such awful situations often agreed to the withdrawal of life support after realising that prolonging life was "futile".

Charlotte's respiration might improve with a tracheostomy, even though her neurological problems were "horrendous", the doctor told Mr Justice Hedley.

Whatever happened, it was highly probable that Charlotte would contract a respiratory virus which could well prove fatal.

The judge was hearing a plea by Portsmouth hospitals NHS trust for an order allowing doctors not to ventilate Charlotte in the event of a future critical respiratory episode, and to allow her to die in peace.

Charlotte was born three months premature at St Mary's hospital, Portsmouth, in October last year weighing just one pound and measuring only five inches.

She has never left hospital and has stopped breathing three times due to serious heart and lung problems. She is fed through a tube because she cannot suck from a bottle, and needs a constant supply of oxygen.

Paediatricians say she will not survive beyond infancy, and even then will never leave hospital because of the problems she faces.

The trust has told Mr Wyatt, 33, and his 23-year-old wife, who is expecting their third child, that, in the event of another crisis for Charlotte, it is prepared to keep her alive long enough for them to attend at her bedside. But it insists that it would be "against the child's interests" to artificially resuscitate her because she lives in constant pain and has a very poor quality of life.

The couple, both committed Christians, of Buckland, Portsmouth, insist that, having survived against all odds for 11 months, their daughter should have the chance of life.

The hearing continues.