Legal lifeline for Archie after UN requests delay
LAWYERS for the Government last night intervened in the case of a 12-year-old boy whose life support is due to be withdrawn today.
The move came after the United Nations asked for treatment to be continued for Archie Battersbee while it considered his case.
The boy was found unconscious at his home in Southend, Essex, on April 7. Doctors were due to end his treatment at the Royal London Hospital at 2pm today.
Now the Government’s legal advisers have asked an out-of-hours High Court judge to review the case after the UN committee on the rights of persons with disabilities asked for time to consider Archie’s case.
The Government letter, marked VERY URGENT and written on behalf of Health Secretary Steve Barclay, read: ‘In the circumstances, we wish to draw the (UN) Committee’s request for interim measures to the Court’s attention for its urgent consideration... We request that this letter is placed before the out- ofhours judge immediately...’
It comes after Archie’s mother Hollie Dance urged the Health Secretary to ‘act immediately’ to stop the treatment ending, saying it would be ‘a flagrant breach’ of Archie’s rights.
Archie’s parents had asked hospital bosses to continue treatment until the UN has considered the case.
Miss Dance found Archie uncontors scious with a ligature over his head on April 7.
She thinks he might have been taking part in an online challenge. Docbelieve he is brain- stem dead and a High Court judge has already ruled that ending treatment was in Archie’s best interests.
Alistair Chesser, chief medical officer for Barts Health NHS Trust said on Friday: ‘Our deepest sympathies are with Archie’s family at this difficult time.’ A spokesman for the Department of Health said: ‘We recognise this is an exceptionally difficult time for Archie Battersbee’s family.’
‘Flagrant breach of rights’