Now family lose appeal over baby’s life support
THE parents of a severely disabled baby have lost the latest round of their fight to stop doctors ending his life support treatment.
But hospital bosses last night lifted a visiting ban imposed on the father of 12month-old Isaiah Haastrup. He had been barred after complaints over his alleged behaviour towards staff.
Three Court of Appeal judges yesterday dismissed a challenge by Lanre Haastrup and Isaiah’s mother, Takesha Thomas, both in their 30s.
They had complained that a High Court judge was wrong to let doctors at King’s College Hospital in London stop providing life support for their son – who suffered brain damage at birth – and switch to a palliative care regime.
But Lord Justice Patten, Lord Justice McFarlane and Lady Justice King, who had considered the case at a Court of Appeal hearing in London, said there was no basis for overturning Mr Justice MacDonald’s decision.
They said Mr Haastrup and Miss Thomas, of Peckham, south- east London, had mounted a fight based on hope, not reality.
Mr Haastrup said they would approach the Supreme Court and European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, adding: ‘ We are not giving up fighting for Isaiah. I think the Court of Appeal judges are wrong.’
A hospital spokesman said: ‘This has been an extremely difficult time for Isaiah’s family and all those involved in his care. The decision to transfer Isaiah to palliative care is in his best interests.’
Mr Justice MacDonald had analysed evidence at a trial in the Family Division of the High Court in London in January. Specialists at King’s said giving further intensive care treatment to the little boy was ‘futile, burdensome and not in his best interests’.