Judge Rules Archie Battersbee 'Is Dead' And Treatment Should Stop

A high court judge has ruled that life-support treatment for Archie Battersbee should stop.

The 12-year-old, currently in a coma, was found unconscious at his home in Southend, Essex back in April.

Archie's mother Hollie Dance says her son had suffered brain damage during an incident at home, which could have potentially been from related to an online challenge.

Doctors at the Royal London Hospital in east London previously suggested that it was 'highly likely' he was 'brain-stem dead'.

As reported by The Mirror this morning, Judge Arbuthnot said: "I find that Archie died at noon on May 31, 2022, which was shortly after the MRI scans taken that day.

"I find that irreversible cessation of brain stem function has been conclusively established.

"I give permission to the medical professionals at the Royal London Hospital to cease to ventilate mechanically Archie Battersbee."

Ms Dance said: "I am devastated and extremely disappointed by the judge's ruling after weeks of fighting a legal battle when I wanted to be at my little boy's bedside.

"Basing this judgment on an MRI test and that he is 'likely' to be dead, is not good enough. 

"This is believed to be the first time that someone has been declared 'likely' to be dead based on an MRI test.

"The medical expert opinion presented in court was clear in that the whole concept of 'brain death' is now discredited, and in any event, Archie cannot be reliably diagnosed as brain-dead."

She continued: "I feel sickened that the hospital and the judge have failed to take the wishes of the family into consideration.

"I do not believe Archie has been given enough time. 

"From the beginning I have always thought 'why the rush?' His heart is still beating, he has gripped my hand, and as his mother, I know he is still in there.

"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.

"This case raises the significant moral, legal and medical questions as to when a person is dead. 

"What does this ruling today tell us about where our society is at? We intend to appeal and will not give up on Archie."