Story highlights Doctors in Ireland remove breathing support from a pregnant woman

She had been declared clinically dead December 3 after a brain injury

Doctors kept her breathing over concern for the rights of the unborn under Irish law

(CNN) The artificial breathing support for a clinically dead woman who is 18 weeks pregnant has been switched off by the Irish hospital treating her, an official with detail knowledge of the case said Saturday.

Ireland's High Court ruled Friday that doctors can withdraw the artificial breathing support as there is "no reasonable prospect" her unborn child will survive.

The 26-year-old woman was pronounced clinically dead on December 3 after suffering serious brain trauma.

Prior to the High Court ruling, doctors had refused to turn off the machine providing artificial breathing support out of concern for the rights of the unborn child.

Under Ireland's constitution, the unborn have the same right to life as the mother. Abortion is illegal except in cases where the mother's life is at "real and substantial risk" due to medical complications or the threat of suicide.

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