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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jul/22/severely-disabled-baby-withdraw-life-support-high-court-judge-rules
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| Severely disabled baby should be allowed to die, judge rules Severely disabled baby should be allowed to die, judge rules | |
| (5 months later) | |
| A severely disabled baby who has been on a ventilator since he was 18 minutes old should be allowed to die, a high court judge has ruled. | A severely disabled baby who has been on a ventilator since he was 18 minutes old should be allowed to die, a high court judge has ruled. |
| Hospital bosses had asked for permission to withdraw life-sustaining treatment. The three-and-a-half-month-old boy’s parents had objected. | Hospital bosses had asked for permission to withdraw life-sustaining treatment. The three-and-a-half-month-old boy’s parents had objected. |
| Mr Justice Hayden concluded that a move to a palliative care regime was in the baby’s best interests. He made his decision late on Friday after analysing evidence at a hearing in the family division of the high court in London. | Mr Justice Hayden concluded that a move to a palliative care regime was in the baby’s best interests. He made his decision late on Friday after analysing evidence at a hearing in the family division of the high court in London. |
| The baby’s 22-year-old mother wept as the judge announced his conclusion. Mr Justice Hayden said neither the baby nor his parents could be named. | The baby’s 22-year-old mother wept as the judge announced his conclusion. Mr Justice Hayden said neither the baby nor his parents could be named. |
| Bosses at the Northampton General hospital NHS trust had asked for a ruling on what was in the baby’s best interests. Mr Justice Hayden was told that the baby suffered from the most severe type of spinal muscular atrophy – a hereditary condition that affects nerve cells connecting muscles to the brain and spinal cord. | Bosses at the Northampton General hospital NHS trust had asked for a ruling on what was in the baby’s best interests. Mr Justice Hayden was told that the baby suffered from the most severe type of spinal muscular atrophy – a hereditary condition that affects nerve cells connecting muscles to the brain and spinal cord. |
| Specialists said the condition was degenerative and incurable. They said the burden of the treatment placed on the baby outweighed any benefit. | Specialists said the condition was degenerative and incurable. They said the burden of the treatment placed on the baby outweighed any benefit. |
| The judge was told that the baby had been put on a ventilator 18 minutes after being born. He has been in an intensive care unit all his life and doctors said there was no prospect of him moving off intensive care. | The judge was told that the baby had been put on a ventilator 18 minutes after being born. He has been in an intensive care unit all his life and doctors said there was no prospect of him moving off intensive care. |