Archie Battersbee has been in intensive care since April, when he was found unconscious at his home in Essex. The Royal Infirmary in east London said in a letter to his parents, Hollie Dance and Paul Battersbee, that “all fluid infusions, medications, including vasopressin will be stopped” at 2pm on August 1. Doctors treating the boy said he is brain dead and won’t wake up. Keeping him on a ventilator, a machine that keeps the lungs working, would not be in his best interest, doctors argued. The decision comes despite appeals and a series of legal bids by Archie’s parents to keep him on life support. On Monday, judges at the Court of Appeal in London ruled that doctors could legally disconnect his ventilator. Ms Dance and Mr Battersbee, who are separated but both live in Southend, Essex, applied to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities after their legal appeal in the UK failed. The intergovernmental organization then asked that Archie’s life support be allowed to continue while it reviews his case. Archie’s parents also appealed to Steve Barclay, the UK secretary of state for health, arguing that turning off his life support would be a “flagrant” breach of his rights. In its letter, the Royal Infirmary said: “We understand that any discussions around withdrawing Archie’s treatment are very difficult and painful. “However, we want to make sure you and your family are as involved as you want to be.” Ms Dance and Mr Battersbee, who are backed by campaign group the Christian Legal Centre, will be told on Monday morning how the withdrawal process will take place, with the aim of “maintaining Archie’s dignity”. Magistrates in London heard that Ms Dance found Archie unconscious with a ligature over his head on April 7. He believes he may have been participating in an online challenge. He never regained consciousness. Alistair Chesser, chief medical officer of Barts Health NHS Trust, said on Friday that “further delay” in starting Archie’s “palliative care” would “not be appropriate” without a court order. A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “We recognize that this is an extremely difficult time for Archie Battersbee’s family and our thoughts are with them. “We have received the letter and will respond in due course.”
