A young boy who was expected to die after being taken off life support has “confounded” medical predictions, according to a UK judge’s ruling. Months ago, the High Court stated that life-sustaining ventilation was not in the child’s best interests following a diagnosis by treating doctors. The boy, identified in court as NR, was born with critical brain impairments and his health was in decline.
Mr Justice Poole, the judge, stated that the “remarkable young boy” was not only alive, but had made progress and now resided at home with his parents. NR still faces significant medical complications, but Mr Justice Poole has now removed orders that would have enabled doctors to withhold CPR or refuse certain treatments. When some of the orders on treatment parameters were made in January 2024, NR was “suffering many more burdens” and there was “little to no evidence that he could derive pleasure from life, other than the consoling touch of his parents,” according to the judge.
NR’s mother stated that her son had “deserved a fresh start,” and that he had “earned it.” Mr Justice Poole acknowledged that the predicament was a “delight” after witnessing photographs of the boy at home with his “devoted” parents. NR’s case is the latest high-profile end-of-life hearing to arrive at the Royal Courts of Justice, following similar disputes between parents and doctors over the treatment of children.
Last year, several legal challenges were issued by the parents of Indi Gregory, a critically ailing infant, in an effort to prolong her life. The family attempted to persuade judges in the High Court, Court of Appeal, and European Court of Human Rights that she should continue to receive treatment. Indi died in November 2023 after her life support was turned off, according to a report
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
