A High Court judge has ruled that doctors can lawfully stop providing life-support treatment to a 12-year-old boy who suffered a “catastrophic” brain injury three months ago, after reviewing evidence. Doctors treating Archie Battersbee say continued treatment is not in his best interests and should end.
Archie was found unconscious by his mother, Hollie Dance, who said she suspected he was taking part in an online challenge. She and Archie's father, Paul Battersbee, from Southend in Essex, challenged the initial High Court ruling that had said Archie was dead.
But despite their appeal, Mr Justice Hayden, who reviewed evidence at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court earlier this week, concluded today (Friday) that ending treatment was in Archie’s best interests. He described what had happened to Archie as a “tragedy of immeasurable dimensions”. Another High Court judge, Mrs Justice Arbuthnot, had earlier concluded that Archie was dead.
