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Archie Battersbee’s family call for inquiry after being ‘stripped of rights’ over son’s life support
‘We want something good to come out of this tragedy and the horrendous experience we have been put through by the system’
The family of Archie Battersbee have demanded an ‘investigation and inquiry’ into his death, saying they were ‘stripped of their rights’.
The twelve-year-old, who had been at the centre of a highly-publicised legal battle since he was found unconscious back in April, died on Saturday afternoon after having his life support withdrawn.
Barts Health NHS Trust, which runs the Royal London Hospital where Archie was being cared for, said his treatment was withdrawn in line with court rulings regarding ‘best interests’.
However, Archie’s family said in a statement that they had been ‘stripped of their rights’, and have since called for a full investigation into the withdrawal of his life support.
Hollie Dance
They have also called for a public inquiry into the role of the NHS and the High Court Family Division in end-of-life cases.
In a statement released through the Christian Legal Centre, which has been involved in the case, the family said: “Yesterday [Saturday August 6th] we lost our beautiful boy, Archie. He has fought against all the odds since April, and we are so proud of him.
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“We are thankful for the huge amount of support we’ve received from so many different people. We are grateful to our legal team and others who have stood with us as we have faced these difficult challenges.
“We want something good to come out of this tragedy and the horrendous experience we have been put through by the system. No parent or family must go through this again.
“We have been forced to fight a relentless legal battle by the Hospital Trust while faced with an unimaginable tragedy.
“We were backed into a corner by the system, stripped of all our rights, and have had to fight for Archie’s real ”best interests” and right to live with everything stacked against us. This has now happened too often to parents who do not want their critically ill children to have life-support removed.
“The pressure of the process has been unbelievable. There must be an investigation and inquiry through the proper channels on what has happened to Archie, and we will be calling for change.”
After Archie’s death, the trust expressed its condolences to the family and said its staff had provided ‘high quality care with extraordinary compassion’, adding that the circumstances were often ‘trying and distressing’.
Alistair Chesser, chief medical officer at Barts Health NHS Trust, said in a statement: “Archie Battersbee passed away on Saturday afternoon at The Royal London Hospital after treatment was withdrawn in line with court rulings about his best interests.
“Members of his family were present at the bedside and our thoughts and heartfelt condolences remain with them at this difficult time.
“The trust would like to thank the medical, nursing and support staff in the paediatric intensive care department who looked after Archie following his awful accident.”