A British judge determined this Monday that Archie Battersbee, a 12-year-old boy who has been suffering from brain damage since last April and whose situation is the focus of a legal dispute between his family and the doctors who treat him, this "dead" no chance of recovery, so you can stop receiving treatment.
The minor, who was left in this condition as a result of an incident that occurred at his home, is currently being treated at the Royal Whitechapel Hospitalin East London.
Doctors consider the child to be brain dead and should be disconnected from the machines that keep him alive while his parents, Hollie Dance and Paul Battersbee, natives of Southend (Essex), maintain that his heart continues to beat and want the treatment to continue.
British judge Emma Arbuthnot ruled today that Archie is "dead" and that the doctors could stop "legitimately" your cares.
The lawyers representing the hospital had asked the magistrate to mediate in this case in order to determine what measures would be in the best interests of the child.
Archie suffered brain damage last April 7, when his parents found him unconscious. They then indicated that they believed that the minor, who did not regain consciousness, had participated in some "online challenge".
As Arbuthnot noted in a written opinion, "irreversible cessation of neural stem cell function has been conclusively established".
"I give permission to the medical professionals at the Royal London Hospital to take Archie Battersbee off ventilators; extubate him; cease medication administration and do not attempt any cardiac or pulmonary resuscitation when cardiac output ceases or respiratory efforts cease"declared the judge.
The magistrate also indicated that if Archie "continues on mechanical ventilation, the likely outcome is sudden death and prospects for recovery are nil".
"He finds no pleasure in life and his brain damage is irrecoverable"he concluded.
The family, who will appeal the ruling, showed "devastated and extremely disappointed" after weeks of legal battle.
"I feel disgusted that the hospital and the judge have not taken into account the wishes of the family. I don’t think Archie has been given enough time. From the beginning we have asked ourselves: Why are you in a hurry?"said today the mother in statements to the press.
"His heart is still beating, he has squeezed my hand and as a mother I know he is still there."he added.