Archie Battersbee's Life Support Is Being Switched Off Tomorrow

Archie Battersbee's life support will be switched off tomorrow despite a United Nations injunction to review his case today (August 1).

It was concluded that the High Court was not bound by the UN treaty and that the 12-year-old's life support can be legally switched off, ITV News reports.

Archie will continue to receive treatment at the Royal London Hospital until 12pm tomorrow.

He has been in a coma since April after he was found unconscious at his family home after apparently taking part in an online challenge.

Doctors at the Royal London hospital told the High Court that he was 'brain stem' dead.

They argued that it was not in his best interests to keep him on life support, with an anonymous specialist stating that he had 'significant areas of tissue necrosis'.

Ella Carter, a family friend, said that while his family knew that he had suffered a 'catastrophic' injury, a 'natural' death would be easier to process – although they were praying for a miracle, BBC News reports.

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While a last-minute hearing was held today (1 August), where Archie's parents argued that he should be given a 'realistic time' to recover, it was decided to switch his life support off.

The hearing came after judges at the Appeal Court agreed that doctors at the Royal London Hospital should withdraw the life support that has kept Archie alive since April 7.

But today's hearing took place after his parents reached out to the United Nations for assistance, arguing that it would be a 'flagrant breach of international law'.

The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities (UNRPD) subsequently issued an injunction to prevent Archie's life support being switched off.

However, while the case was considered by the body, the High Court's original ruling was upheld.

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As reported by the BBC, Archie's mother, Hollie Dance, argued that the decision should have been left to his parents and not the courts or the hospital.

She told BBC Radio 4: "I think this sort of decision should be made by the parents – we've got parental responsibility for a reason."

Hollie argued that there was evidence that her son was improving, despite the doctor's prognosis, and said that he should be given six months to recover.

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Archie's mum said: "I don't think six months was not too much to ask for, before being dragged through a court.

"I don't think I'm holding on to hope, I'm just asking for a realistic time for my child to recover from a brain injury.

"They wanted to turn the machine off on day three. What is the rush?

"I just think while Archie's progressing, I think it's important that evidence is actually put before a court. That he's progressing, not deteriorating like the doctor said that he would."

Earlier this month, Hollie shared a video which she claimed proved Archie was 'trying to breathe on his own'.

Topics: News

Emma Guinness

@guinness_emma