A British judge has ruled in favour of taking a severely disabled boy off life support, against his mother’s wishes that her son’s treatment should continue.
In a private High Court hearing, the National Health System (NHS) trust treating the boy, who suffers from multiple disabilities, asked for the court to rule in favour of stopping lawful treatment, Metro.co.uk reports.
Ms Justice Russell of the family court division said the boy’s life expectancy was “limited” and she had to consider the boy’s “best interests”.
“The benefits of the treatments which may prolong his life for a short time bring with them… many burdens,” the judge said in her ruling.
“All will cause him considerable pain and discomfort; they will all weaken this already vulnerable, fragile child and will all compromise his physical, psychological and emotional well-being.
“By allowing the medical treatment and the procedures associated with them, his decline towards his inevitable death will be all the more frightening, isolated and detached from the possibility of receiving, and in his limited way, giving, human warmth, love and comfort.
“It is in his best interests, taking all aspects of his life – medical, social, familial and emotional – into account, that the trust is granted the declarations that it seeks.”
The boy’s mother, who is Romanian, opposed the doctors application to take her son off life-support, stating she wanted “any and all procedures and treatments with any potential for prolong his life to be performed”.
The boy’s father was unabled to be traced by hospital staff and played no part in proceedings.
There has been some critcism in the UK Parliament over the ruling and the judge’s decision to hear the matter in private.
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