Archie Battersbee: Family of boy ruled dead to request appeal

The family of a 12-year-old boy who is in a coma will find out later if they can appeal against a ruling that his life support treatment should stop.

Archie Battersbee, 12, was found unconscious at his home in Southend, Essex, on 7 April.

Last week the High Court agreed with doctors at the Royal London Hospital that he was “brain-stem dead”.

His relatives will use a follow-up High Court hearing to ask permission to mount an appeal.

His parents said his heart was still beating and wanted treatment to continue.

Archie’s mother Hollie Dance said she was “devastated” by the ruling that his treatment should stop.

At the High Court in London last week, Mrs Justice Arbuthnot ruled that doctors could lawfully stop providing treatment for Archie.

Members of Archie’s family want Court of Appeal judges to consider the case and will launch an appeal bid on Monday.

A spokesman for campaign organisation the Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting Archie’s family, said relatives will use the follow-up hearing to ask the same judge to let them mount the appeal.

Relatives must establish they have an arguable case before a full appeal hearing can take place.

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