London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Archie Battersbee: Court rules life-support can end

Archie Battersbee: Court rules life-support can end

Life-support treatment for 12-year-old Archie Battersbee can end, a judge has ruled.

Archie was found unconscious at home in Southend, Essex, on 7 April.

Doctors at the Royal London Hospital said he was "brain stem dead" and the hospital's lawyers have argued it was in Archie's best interests to stop treatment.

Hollie Dance, Archie's mother, said the family planned to appeal against the latest High Court decision.

"Archie would want us to keep on fighting... and we will keep on fighting," she said.

Ms Dance told previous hearings she believed Archie had been taking part in an online challenge prior to being found.


'Futile'


This is the second time the case has been in the High Court in London.

A different judge previously agreed with doctors and ruled Archie was dead, and today Mr Justice Hayden also ruled in favour of the hospital.

He also refused permission to appeal but the family have a second chance by asking for permission directly from the Court of Appeal by 14:00 BST on Monday.

Mr Justice Hayden heard the case in the High Court on Monday after the family went to the Court of Appeal, which ruled a new hearing was necessary.

He said today that continuing treatment was "futile".

"It serves only to protract his death, whilst being unable to prolong his life," he said.

Lawyers representing the hospital's governing trust, Barts Health NHS Trust, had told Mr Justice Hayden that Archie had suffered a "devastating" brain injury.

They argued that life-support was "burdensome", "contrary to dignity" and "ethically distressing" for medics treating him.


'Crushing blow'


Archie's parents, Ms Dance and Paul Battersbee, had argued treatment should continue for as long as his heart was beating.

Mr Battersbee, who is separated from Ms Dance, told Mr Justice Hayden that his son would "not want to leave" his mother.

Speaking outside court, Ms Dance called the ruling to stop treatment a "crushing blow".

"The planned removal of the ventilator is definitely the worst thing that may happen from my point of view. I cannot see how this is in any way dignified," she said.

"We disagree with the idea of dignity in death. Enforcing it on us and hastening his death for that purpose is profoundly cruel."

In June, a High Court judge ruled that Archie Battersbee was "brain-stem dead"


Mr Justice Hayden said evidence showed that Archie had suffered a "significant injury" to "multiple areas" of his brain and had not "regained awareness at any time".

"Archie's mother described him as a fighter and I have no doubt he was," said the judge.

"But the fight, if it can properly be characterised as such, is no longer in Archie's control."

He said medical evidence had shown that improvement in Archie's condition was "not possible" and there was "no hope at all of recovery".

The judge said he had reached his conclusions with "profound regret".

Paul Battersbee (pictured during the High Court hearing in May) said his son "needs more time"


Ms Dance, Mr Battersbee and other members of Archie's family were in court to hear the judge's decision.

"There have been too many battles in too short a space of time," said Mr Battersbee.

"He needs more time."

Alistair Chesser, chief medical officer for Barts Health NHS Trust, said: "Our deepest sympathies are with Archie's family at this difficult time.

"We accept the decision of the High Court that it is no longer in Archie's best interests to continue treatment.

"We are allowing time for the family to consider whether to appeal this decision before any changes to treatment are made."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×