A brain-damaged boy should be taken off life support, a High Court has ruled as it upheld a previous decision.
Archie Battersbee’s family have lost their case for doctors to keep treating the 12-year-old, who has been unconscious for three months.
The High Court had been asked to decide what was in Archie’s best interests after the boy’s family challenged hospital proposals to turn off his life support.
It previously gave doctors permission to stop treating Archie, ruling the boy had died at the end of May.
But the court was ordered to reconsider the verdict after the boy’s family – who want him to be given more time and say his heart is still beating – successfully appealed.
Mr Justice Hayden ruled on Friday doctors at the Royal London Hospital could proceed with switching off life support.
He was told doctors believe they will only“delay the inevitable” by continuing to treat Archie, who suffered a “devastating” brain injury in April.
His mother believes the incident at home may have been linked to an online challenge.
Martin Westgate QC, who was representing hospital bosses, told the court on Monday Archie was “unresponsive” and had “no prospect” of recovering.
He said specialists do not think it in the youngster’s best interests for treatment to continue.
But a barrister representing Archie‘s parents, Hollie Dance and Paul Battersbee, from Southend, Essex, said it is hoped their son will “make some sort of recovery”.
Ian Wise QC argued that continued treatment is not “futile” and that Archie would want a “natural” not a “choreographed” or “planned” death.
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