In giving their judgment in Ireland's right to die appeal case 1996, the following points were made by the majority of the five judges involved: Withholding of medical treatment is lawful. Artificial nutrition and hydration are medical treatments, not just care. Everyone has a right to refuse medical treatment, even if that refusal should lead to death. The Ward (the person on whose behalf the application was being made) had limited capacity, if any. Therefore, the courts had