Italian authorities said on Friday they were investigating 14 people for the death of a comatose woman whose feeding tube was removed in a landmark right-to-die case, including the woman's father.

Eluana Englaro, 38, spent 17 years in a vegetative state following a car crash in 1992. She died on Feb. 9 after her father, Beppino, secured permission from Italy's high court to stop feeding her.

Englaro's father and her anaesthetist were among those being investigated for homicide, prosecutor Antonio Biancardi said. Being named in an investigation carries no implication of guilt in Italy. An autopsy found no sign of foul play.

Citing procedure, Biancardi said authorities were duty-bound to open a formal investigation after receiving "very many complaints from citizens".

The Englaro case divided the mainly Catholic country, with daily demonstrations and sit-ins by those who favoured letting her die and those who said it was tantamount to murder.

Conservative Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi had sought to stop removal of the feeding tube, backed by the Vatican.