Doctors seek brain test for boy, 12

HOSPITAL bosses want an unconscious 12-yearold boy tested to see if he is brain dead and have asked a High Court judge for permission.

Archie Battersbee has not woken up since being found with a ligature over his head at home over a month ago.

His mother, Hollie Dance, of Southend, Essex, thinks he may have been taking part in an “online challenge”.

Specialists treating the schoolboy at The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel say brain death is “highly likely” and want a procedure carried out to check.

Archie’s mother and father, Paul Battersbee, have raised their concerns about the proposal.

Mrs Justice Arbuthnot is considering the case at a private hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London.

She was told Archie lives with his mother and was hurt on April 7.

Fiona Paterson, for Barts Health NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, told the judge the priority was a decision on whether Archie should have the brain-stem test, which she said was endorsed nationally and would be done in a way that ensures any risk was minimised.

Ms Paterson wants the judge to rule that the test is in Archie’s best interests.

But Bruno Quintaville, for his parents, said they were very concerned that their son had not received treatment.

“The concern is that he may be suffering every day more damage which could have been avoided,” he said.