The mother of a 12-year-old boy left in a comatose state after suffering “catastrophic” brain damage three months ago has said she will keep fighting even though Court of Appeal judges have ruled that life-support treatment can stop. Three appeal judges on Monday upheld a ruling by a High Court judge who had decided that doctors could lawfully stop treating Archie Battersbee.
Hollie Dance said afterwards that she would continue to fight and was considering taking the case to the European Court of Human Rights, which is based in Strasbourg, France. Miss Dance and Archie’s father, Paul Battersbee, who are separated but both live in Southend, Essex, had mounted an appeal bid and argued that Mr Justice Hayden had made errors following a High Court hearing.
But appeal judges Sir Andrew McFarlane, the president of the Family Division of the High Court and most senior family court judge in England and Wales, Lady Justice King and Lord Justice Peter Jackson refused to overturn Mr Justice Hayden’s decision. Miss Dance had asked appeal judges to adjourn their ruling.
