The parents of a 12-year-old boy who was left in a comatose state after suffering brain damage United Nations (UN) to intervene.
Archie Battersbee’s mother and father, Hollie Dance and Paul Battersbee, have filed a “last-ditch” petition with a UN committee after losing life-sustaining treatment battles in London courts, a family spokesperson said Friday.
The spokesperson said Archie’s parents wanted the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to look into the young person’s case.
A Supreme Court The judge said ending treatment is in Archie’s best interest.
The youngster’s parents, who are divorced but both live in Southend, Essex, were unable to convince Court of Appeal judges to overturn that ruling and High Council judges have refused to intervene.
Archie Battersbee’s family photo
/ PA wireArchie’s parents are supported by a campaign organization called the Christian Legal Center.
A spokesperson for the center announced its latest move, saying it had made a “last-ditch request”.
“Archie’s parents want the UN commission to consider Archie’s case, arguing that it has a protocol through which ‘individuals and families’ can file complaints about violations of the rights of people with disabilities,” the spokesperson said.
“The family argues that stopping treatment would violate the UK’s obligations under Articles…of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, and under an Article of the UN Convention on children’s rights.”
Archie’s parents have asked hospital bosses to continue treatment until the UN considers the matter.
Judges heard that on April 7, Ms Dance found Archie unconscious with a ligature over his head.
She thinks he entered an online challenge.
The boy has not regained consciousness.
doctors Treating Archie at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, East London, believes he is brainstem dead and says continuing life-support treatment is not in his best interest.
Bosses at the hospital board, Barts Health NHS Trusthad asked for decisions about what medical steps would be in Archie’s best interests.
A Supreme Court judge, Ms. Justice Arbuthnot, initially considered the case and concluded that Archie was dead.
But appeals court judges upheld his parents’ objection to Ms Arbuthnot’s decisions and said the evidence should be reviewed by another Supreme Court judge, Mr Justice Hayden.
Miss Dance said: “Words cannot describe how devastated we are.
“The pressure that was put on us from the beginning to rush through the process of ending Archie’s life was a disgrace.
“All we’ve ever asked for is more time.
“The urgency of the hospital and the courts is inexplicable if other parties are happy that we have more time.
“I don’t think there’s anything ‘dignified’ about planning Archie’s death.
“For me, this would be the most traumatic outcome.
“Parents need support, not pressure.
“It’s exhausting what we’ve been through.
“We shouldn’t have to fight endlessly against the hospital in the courts for what we think is right for Archie.
“However, top judges have told us that this is the law, if it is, the law must change.
“We will continue to fight for Archie, we will not give up and we are now waiting for the response of the UN committee.”