After five months of hospitalization, Archie Battersbee diedthe 12-year-old boy who was Found unconscious by his parents at home after doing a viral internet dare. The case became more relevant in recent weeks after the British High Court authorized the disconnection of the minor since the doctors who treated him assured that had no chance of recoverywhich led to a legal dispute with the family.
The information was released on the morning of his mother, Holly Danceat the gates of royal london hospital. “Archie died today just after 12:15pm (London time). I just want to say that I am the proudest mom in the world of such a beautiful child. She fought until the last moment.”
read too A judge authorized the disconnection of a child who suffered from brain death for doing a viral challenge
The Archie Battersbee case took on strong media significance on April 7. His mother found him unresponsive at her home in Essex County, with a noose tied around her head. The first hypotheses indicated that it could have been a viral challenge through the Tik-Tok social network. The injury was irreversible and the minor remained in a coma until his death.
The controversial authorization of the judge to disconnect it
The British High Court had authorized in mid-June the disconnection of the 12-year-old boy with brain death in the middle of a legal dispute between his family and doctors who treat him, who assured that had no chance of recovery.
The judge, Emma Arbuthnot, ruled that the boy had irreversible brain damage as confirmed by the doctors, and authorized the hospital professionals to disconnect the child’s mechanical ventilatordo not continue with the administration of medications and do not attempt any cardiac or pulmonary resuscitation.
“I find that Archie died at noon on May 31, 2022, shortly after the MRIs were done that day. I think it has been conclusively established irreversible cessation of brainstem function”, he had written at the time in his sentence.
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“I give permission to the medical professionals at the Royal London Hospital to cease respiration for Archie Battersbee; extubate him; cease the administration of medications and do not attempt any cardiac or pulmonary resuscitation when cardiac output ceases or respiratory efforts cease, ”the judge continued.
In the brief, the magistrate concluded: “If you continue with mechanical ventilation, the probable outcome is sudden death and prospects for recovery are nil. He finds no pleasure in life and his brain damage is irrecoverable”.
Archie Battersbee’s parents appealed the measure
Hollie Dance and Paul Battersbee, parents of the young man, they appealed the measure since they held that their son’s heart was still beating and they wanted the treatment to continue.
Hollie had assured that she was “extremely disappointed” by the judge’s decision and reaffirmed that she will not give up her son: “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. His heart is still beating, he has squeezed my hand and as a mother I know he is still there.”.