The judges see medically clear evidence. The parents argue that their child’s heart is still beating: there is a legal dispute about the British boy Archie. The 12-year-old has been in a coma since an accident in April. An appeals court has now made a clear decision.
A terminally ill 12-year-old boy in the UK no longer needs life support from doctors. An appeals court denied Archie’s parents’ request. Two courts had previously decided that the doctors could stop providing support. It’s in Archie’s best interest.
Archie’s mother had argued the boy had tried to breathe on his own twice in the past few days. According to his lawyer, the father suffered a heart attack before the announcement and was taken to a hospital.
Archie suffered serious brain injuries in a domestic accident in April – possibly during an internet dare. His mother suspects that he took part in a Tiktok challenge where the aim is to strangle yourself for as long as possible. The twelve-year-old has been in a coma since the so-called “Blackout Challenge”. His parents claim that Archie’s heart is still beating. The judges, however, spoke of medically clear evidence.
The case is reminiscent of similar disputes over terminally ill children in Great Britain. The financially squeezed British health service tends to withdraw life support much sooner than would be the case in Germany. In addition, the wishes of parents and relatives are not taken into account to the same extent. What is in the best interests of the patient is often decided by judges on the recommendation of medical professionals.
(This article was first published on Monday, July 25, 2022.)