The legal battle is the latest in a series of very public British cases in which parents and doctors have sparred over who is better qualified to make decisions about a child’s medical care.
That has sparked a debate about whether there’s a more appropriate way to settle such disagreements away from the courts.
The disagreement triggered weeks of legal arguments as Archie’s parents sought to force the hospital to continue life-sustaining treatments. Doctors at the Royal London Hospital argued there was no chance of recovery and he should be allowed to die. "Their unconditional love and dedication to Archie is a golden thread that runs through this case,″ Theis wrote in her decision. "I hope now Archie can be afforded the opportunity for him to die in peaceful circumstances, with the family who meant so much to him as he clearly does to them."That ruling was carried out Saturday after both the U.K. Court of Appeal and the European Court of Human Rights refused to take up the case.
"They provided high quality care with extraordinary compassion over several months in often trying and distressing circumstances,″ said Alistair Chesser, chief medical officer of Barts Health NHS Trust, which runs the hospital. "This tragic case not only affected the family and his carers but touched the hearts of many across the country.″
Ilora Finlay, a professor of palliative medicine at Cardiff University and member of the House of Lords, said this week she hopes the Conservative government will hold an independent inquiry into different ways of handling these cases. Deciding such disputes through an adversarial court process doesn’t help anybody, she said.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Boy at Heart of UK Court Battle Dies After Life Support EndsA 12-year-old boy who has been in a coma for four months has died at a London hospital after doctors ended life-sustaining treatment that had been the subject of a lengthy court battle. Archie Battersbee’s mother, Hollie Dance, said he died at 12:15 p.m. local time Saturday, about two hours after the hospital began withdrawing treatment. British courts had rejected the family’s request to transfer Archie to a hospice, and the European Court of Human Rights refused for a second time to intervene in the case. His mother, Hollie Dance, says “he fought until the very end. I’m the proudest mum in the world.″
Read more »
Boy dies in London hospital after court battle over his life supportArchie Battersbee’s parents had sought to force the hospital to continue life-sustaining treatments, while doctors argued there was no chance of recovery.
Read more »
Boy at heart of UK court battle dies after life support ends'He fought until the very end.' A 12-year-old boy who has been in a coma for four months died Saturday at a London hospital after doctors ended life-sustaining treatment that was the subject of a lengthy court battle.
Read more »
Breaking down all of Georgia's election lawsuitsAs Election Day nears, more than 12 battles are still raging in the courts over Georgia's voting system. Here’s a breakdown of all of the state’s election lawsuits:
Read more »
Mother of comatose UK boy says hospital to end care soonThe family of a 12\u002Dyear\u002Dold boy who has been in a coma for four months expects a London hospital to begin withdrawing life\u002Dsustaining treatment Saturday after…
Read more »