A MUM has been given fresh hope in her battle to help her severely disabled daughter undergo a controversial operation.

Alison Thorpe, 51, is prepared to go to court to get permission to allow daughter Katie to have a partial hysterectomy.

Katie, 21, suffers from severe cerebral palsy, cannot talk, walk or feed herself and has the mental age of a six-month-old.

Alison, of Coxes Farm Road, in Billericay, wants the operation so Katie won’t menstruate as that causes her to scream with pain and suffer unnecessary discomfort, which she doesn’t understand.

Alison and husband Peter lost a battle with Chelmsford’s St John’s Hospital in 2008 for the partial hysterectomy, butacase this month, in which a 36-yearold man with learning difficulties was allowed a vasectomy, could bring support for her campaign.

She said: “I don’t think this should set a precedent, but I hope it will open doors for us.

“I think common sense hasprevailed and, in our case several years ago, common sense didn’t prevail.

“This case has made us want to revisit where we were at and see if there is potential for Katie here.

“Nothing has changed as far as our opinion goes or what else is available.”

Because Katie is now of adult age, Alison has even lesspower to make decisions on her behalf, but could take her case to the High Court.

Other options for Katie include the pill or contraceptive injections, but Alison doesn’t believe they are morally right in Katie’s case.

She added: “Those drugs don’t come without their own problems either. One of the most common side effects with the pill is thrombosis and as Katie doesn’t move around much it could happen to her.

“And do you want a 21-year-old who is not sexually active to be on the pill? Everyone is jumping up and down asking what about her human rights, but is that right? Shedoesn’t have the capacity to make those choices.

“I completely understand where the disability rights organisations are coming from. What I don’t want is the disabled people becoming scared that a precedent has been set and I will follow on from that and set another precedent for disabled women.

“We are looking for an individual decision regarding Katie.

“We totally believe it is the right thing for Katie. It will enhance her quality of life. Her quality of life isn’t good on a day to day basis.

“It is poor compared to what we know and expect.

“We totally haven’t changed our stance on where we are.Iam hoping this will allow changes to be made.”