Archie’s parents will appeal

The High Court has ruled for a second time that 12-year-old Archie Battersbee’s life support should end, despite his parents’ objections. 

Doctors told the court that Archie, who has been in hospital since 7 April when he was found hanging from the banisters with a cord around his neck, is ‘brain stem dead’; but once again, his parents will appeal. The judge said treatment was ‘futile, it compromises Archie’s dignity… It serves only to protract his death, whilst being unable to prolong his life’. Andrea Williams at the Christian Legal Centre said: ‘[The] courts seem to have developed a concept of “dying with dignity” which amounts to euthanasia in all but name.’