On Wednesday night, his parents were given a deadline of 9am to submit the request or his treatment would have been stopped at 11am. The family’s petition aims to move Archie to a hospice to die “with dignity” rather than a hospital. His mother, Hollie Dance, said she wanted her son to “spend his final moments” with his family in private. The 12-year-old boy has been in a coma since he was found unconscious by his mother at their home in Southend, Essex, in April. Doctors treating him at the Royal London Hospital believe the young man is dead from the brain stem and say continued life support is not in his best interests. Barts Health NHS Trust said Archie’s condition was too unstable for transport and that taking him by ambulance to a different setting would “likely hasten the premature deterioration which the family wish to avoid, even with full intensive care equipment and staff in journey”. .
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A High Court ruling handed down in July requires Archie to remain at the Royal London Hospital while his treatment is withdrawn. Image: Photo: Hollie Dance However, a spokeswoman for the family said a hospice had agreed to take him in, adding: “Archie is obviously now in palliative care, so there’s no reason why he shouldn’t spend his final moments in a hospice.” His parents, Mrs Dance and Paul Battersbee, are fighting the decision, launching a series of legal challenges to ensure their son’s life-sustaining treatment continues. They lost their latest bid on Wednesday after the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) said it would “not interfere” with decisions by British courts. Archie is being kept alive by a combination of medical interventions, including ventilation and drug treatments. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 1:05 Archie’s mum: ‘I’ll fight to the bitter end’ His family’s latest High Court request came after Barts Health NHS Trust, which runs the Royal London Hospital where Archie is being treated, said his treatment would be withdrawn at 11am. today, unless they apply to have him transferred to a hospice. He insisted: “Any application will be opposed on both procedural and best interests grounds.” The Trust said it “continues to put Archie’s welfare and best interests at the forefront of decision-making about his care. It believes Archie’s condition is unstable and moving him even a short distance poses a significant risk.” . Image: Archie’s parents Paul Battersbee and Hollie Dance As a result of the application being submitted, Archie’s treatment will continue while the application is being considered. His parents insisted his life support should not be withdrawn, saying the young boy’s heart was still beating and he was holding his mother’s hand. On Tuesday, Ms Dance and Mr Battersbee lost a bid in the High Court – the UK’s highest court – to continue the treatment. A day earlier, the Court of Appeal rejected a proposal by the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to delay the withdrawal of the treatment until it had a chance to review the case.
