Archie Battersbee: Family refused permission for hospice move
The 12-year-old’s mother says “we love Archie and refuse to give up on him”. …
7 April 2022
Archie is found unconscious by his mother after an incident at their home in Essex. He is taken to Southend Hospital.
8 April
Archie is transferred to The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel where he has been treated ever since.
26 April
The NHS trust that runs the Royal London starts High Court proceedings asking for Archie to undergo brain stem testing.
13 May
Mrs Justice Arbuthnot rules that brain stem testing should be carried out.
16 May
Two specialists try to administer brain stem function tests, but they are unable to as Archie did not respond to a peripheral nerve stimulation test, a precursor to the brain stem test.
25 May
A hearing is held to decide if further MRI scans should be conducted. Archie’s parents did not consent on the basis that moving Archie could harm him.
27 May
The court approves further MRI scans, which are carried out on 31 May.
6-8 June
A final hearing is held to hear evidence on whether Archie’s life-support treatment should continue.
13 June
The High Court judge rules that Archie is “dead” based on MRI scan results and that treatment could be withdrawn.
20 June
The family ask the Court of Appeal to reconsider the case.
29 June
The Court of Appeal says that a new hearing to determine Archie’s best interests should take place.
11 July
A new hearing is held in the High Court with evidence given before Mr Justice Hayden.
15 July
Mr Justice Hayden rules that life-support treatment should end, saying continuing it is “futile”.
25 July
Three Court of Appeal judges support the High Court ruling that treatment can end.
28 July
The Supreme Court rules out intervening in the case and supports the Court of Appeal ruling.
29 July
The family make an application to the United Nations.
30 July
A UN Committee writes to the UK government asking for a delay in withdrawing treatment while they consider the case.
31 July
The government asks for an urgent hearing to review the case.
1 August
The Court of Appeal refuses to postpone withdrawal of treatment until the UN can hear the case.
2 August
The Supreme Court refuse the family’s application for permission to appeal the Court of Appeal ruling.
3 August
European Court of Human Rights refuses an application from the family to postpone the withdrawal of Archie’s life support.
4 August
Archie’s parents make a legal application to move their son to a hospice for end of life care.
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