The High Court has ruled a boy, 12, in coma must undergo tests to see if he is brain dead.
Specialists should try to establish whether Archie Battersbee, who has not regained consciousness since suffering "catastrophic" brain damage in an incident at home more than a month ago is dead, a judge has ruled.
Mrs Justice Arbuthnot concluded that a brain-stem test would be in Archie's best interests, at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London on Friday.
Specialists treating Archie at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London, think it "highly likely" the youngster is dead and say life-support treatment should end.
Bosses at the hospital's governing trust, Barts Health NHS Trust, asked the judge to rule that a brain-stem test would be in Archie's best interests.
A specialist told the judge that the brain stem was responsible for the functions which kept people alive.
Archie's parents Hollie Dance, 46, and Paul Battersbee, 56, who are separated and both from Southend, Essex, have concerns about doctors' proposals and want treatment to continue.
They questioned the reliability of the test, feared that it could cause more damage and asked why Archie, who lives with his mother, was not receiving treatment to relieve swelling on his brain
Miss Dance has told how she found Archie with a ligature over his head on April 7, and thinks he might have been taking part in an online challenge.
She had urged the judge to give her son, a keen gymnast, "more time".
"Everyone is in such a rush," she told the PA news agency.
"I'm asking the judge to just give him more time - give him time to fight back."
She added: "It's only been five weeks - it took me longer to get over the flu. What's the rush?"
Previously speaking, Hollie said: “I’ve refused the brain stem testing to declare him brain dead. It’s too soon.
“He has squeezed my fingers with a tight grip. I think that’s his way of letting me know he’s still here and just needs more time.
“We don’t know the extent of the damage but I would rather have some of Archie than none of Archie just to wake up every morning and kiss his beautiful little face.
“I am fighting for as much time as possible to watch and wait."
“My older kids Tom, 22 and Lauren, 20 come every day to visit their brother and try to get him to respond. All day we talk to him and play him his favourite song, Lucis Dreams by Juice WRLD and voice notes from his friends.
“Hope is what I am holding on to at the moment. Where there is life there’s hope. Until it’s God’s way I won’t accept he should go.
"I know of miracles when people have come back from being brain dead. He may not be the same as he was but if there’s a possibility he could live a happy life after this I want to give it to him.”
Mrs Justice Arbuthnot oversaw a private hearing but said Archie could be named in media reports of the case.
A campaign organisation called the Christian Legal Centre said it is supporting Archie's family.
