DIJON, France, March 18, 2008  - A French court on Monday rejected arequest from a 52-year-old severely disfigured former schoolteacher for theright to die, in a case that has stirred much emotion in France, a judicialsource said.   The high court in Dijon, eastern France, decided to side with theprosecution which argued that current legislation does not allow ChantalSebire's doctor to prescribe lethal drugs.   In her appeal to the court, Sebire said she did not want to endure furtherpain and subject herself to an irreversible worsening of her condition. Sheasked the court to allow her doctor to help her end her life.   A mother of three who lives in the Bourgogne region of eastern France,Sebire drew a strong outpour of sympathy when she appealed in a televisioninterview last month for the right to "depart peacefully".   Before-and-after pictures of the woman, her face severely deformed, havebeen featured in the press and her account of frightened children who run awayat the sight of her has drawn sympathy.   Sebire learnt in 2002 that she had developed an esthesioneuroblastoma, anuncommon malignant tumour in the nasal cavity, which she said has led to"atrocious" suffering.   "In 2000, I lost the sense of smell and taste ... and I lost my sight inOctober 2007," she said in the television interview.   "One would not allow an animal to go through what I have endured," she saidbefore urging President Nicolas Sarkozy to intervene and grant her request.   Commenting on the case, Justice Minister Rachida Dati said last week that"doctors were not there to prescribe lethal drugs".   Legislation adopted in 2005 allows families to request that life-supportequipment for a terminally-ill patient be switched off, but does not allow adoctor to take action to end a patient's life.   Sarkozy asked his chief adviser on health issues to contact Sebire and seeka second opinion on her condition.   Sebire has said she will not appeal the decision rendered Monday and thatshe would find life-terminating drugs through other means.   "I now know how to get my hands on what I need and if I don't get it inFrance, I will get it elsewhere," she said.   Only 200 cases of the disease have been recorded worldwide in two decades.