The family had thought they would be able to care for John Lamb at home after the 77-year-old suffered a stroke and a series of illnesses.

Instead the Lambs have found themselves locked in a red-tape battle with a council social work department over guardianship they claim would give officials the right to withhold consent over their father's medical treatment.

Now his daughter Karen Lamb is planning legal action and is due to enter talks along with her lawyer with Dundee City Council on Friday as the family moves over Mr Lamb's future.

The family have aid they have raised a petition of more than 1,200 in two weeks, with a target of 1,500, in an effort to ensure the life and death decision is not made by a stranger.

Ms Lamb said that the family were shocked when they were told they could lose Power of Attorney over Mr Lamb's treatment.

She said the council's move to take guardianship would mean they have the final word on when medical treatment can be withheld, leaving him to die.

Ms Lamb, from Tayport, said she believes this right should rest with her mother Phyliss, 75, who has been married to Mr Lamb for 52 years.

The petition to Dundee City Council chief executive David Martin is titled: "Please let my mother decide if my father will die."

The retired Michelin tyre plant worker now needs round-the-clock care after a stroke four years ago.

Ms Lamb said: "My dad suffered a major stroke in 2012 which left him very vulnerable and unable to care for himself."

She said the family cared for him at home for two years but he was admitted to hospital at one stage with pneumonia.

She continued: "His health at that time had deteriorated to such an extent that the hospital started to discontinue treatment.

"After my father told me he was fighting I took action to stop this process and he has survived another year and two months.

"The social work department have put in for guardianship of him wanting the legal rights to withhold consent to medical treatment and who will be allowed to visit him.

"At the moment my father gets two visitors, my mother and I."

She claimed the family only became aware of the potential legal changes when medical treatment was temporarily discontinued around 14 months ago.

"There was no Power of Attorney in place. We were one of the many families that that were completely blindsided.

"My dad's safeguarder informed us that my mother as has next of kin and wife has no automatic power of control over matters and I would stress to anyone reading this request to consider the importance of such a document. There is power in Power of Attorney.

"This document would have saved my father, his wife, daughters and grandchildren endless unnecessary agony and tears."

Sheila Duffy, of the Friends at the End (Fate), a voluntary group dedicated to legalising Assisted Dying in the UK, said that she cannot comment on individual cases but added that people should "at least consider making a living will or advance directive" which would help families and health professionals know your wishes should you become seriously ill.

A spokesman for Dundee City Council said: "We do not talk about individual cases."