The treatment of Archie Battersbee (12) would normally be stopped today. But the hospital had given the parents until 9 am this morning to go to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). It just became known that the parents seized the opportunity and submitted a request to the ECtHR.
CFU
Aug 3, 2022
Latest update:
12:28
Source:
Sky News, BBC
Archie’s mother, Hollie Dance, said she was “relieved” that the new application had been submitted. “We are very relieved, we have to challenge every decision. We now hope and pray that the ECtHR will judge the application favorably. We won’t give up Archie to the bitter end.” It is still unclear whether the family’s lawyers have any chance of success with their request.
In an interview Tuesday, his mother emphasized that she thinks it is wrong that “other people” decide “where he takes his last breath and whether he lives or dies”.
Archie has been in a coma since April. The parents went to the highest court in the country before, and again on Monday. But they were blunt again, allowing their son’s treatment to be ended today.
Archie’s mother previously sought help from British Health Secretary Steve Barclay and the UN, but to no avail. “I am very disappointed with our justice system,” said the mother. Although she had expected the verdict that fell on Tuesday, she said.
After the verdict, the woman had to admit that she “cannot take her son home, do nothing”.
Quote
I always said I would fight to the bitter end for Archie and that’s what I did
“I always said I would fight to the bitter end for Archie and that’s what I did,” his mother said. “But it’s not right, it’s my child. It is wrong for “other people” to decide “where to take his last breath and whether he lives or dies”.
“They’re not just taking our kid, they’re destroying an entire family,” Holly Dance concluded.
Archie suffered a brain injury in an incident at home in April. According to his mother, he probably participated in a TikTok challenge in which participants deliberately try to become unconscious. The boy never regained consciousness and, according to the doctors, is “brain stem dead”. But according to the parents, their son is making good progress.
Machines should no longer keep 12-year-old Archie alive. What would happen to such a child in our country? (+)
COLUMN. About how parental love can be stronger than death: “Rather than a grueling lawyers’ war, I gave Archie’s parents tons of comfort” (+)
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