Europe's top human rights court has allowed doctors to stop treatment of a man left comatose after a car accident seven years ago.

The European Court of Human Rights confirmed Friday a decision by a French court last year that the man had been clear he did not want to be kept in a vegetative state.

The case has drawn nationwide attention amid debate about end-of-life practices.

Vincent Lambert's family members disagree on whether to keep him alive artificially. His wife wants doctors to stop life support for him but his parents disagree.

"There's no relief, no joy to express. We'd just like his will to be done", Lambert's wife, Rachel, told journalists following the ruling of the Strasbourg-based court.