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Isaiah Haastrup: Baby's life-support 'can be stopped' | Isaiah Haastrup: Baby's life-support 'can be stopped' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Doctors can stop life-support treatment to a brain-damaged 11-month-old against his parents' wishes, a High Court judge has said. | Doctors can stop life-support treatment to a brain-damaged 11-month-old against his parents' wishes, a High Court judge has said. |
King's College Hospital wanted to give only palliative care to Isaiah Haastrup as staff felt continued life-support was "not in his best interests". | King's College Hospital wanted to give only palliative care to Isaiah Haastrup as staff felt continued life-support was "not in his best interests". |
Isaiah's parents, Takesha Thomas and Lanre Haastrup, both 36, wanted his life-support treatment to continue. | Isaiah's parents, Takesha Thomas and Lanre Haastrup, both 36, wanted his life-support treatment to continue. |
Mr Justice MacDonald said he passed his ruling with "profound sadness". | Mr Justice MacDonald said he passed his ruling with "profound sadness". |
Mr Haastrup, from Peckham, south London, said after the ruling: "We will be speaking to the lawyers to see what they say. | Mr Haastrup, from Peckham, south London, said after the ruling: "We will be speaking to the lawyers to see what they say. |
"Of course, one is disappointed." | "Of course, one is disappointed." |
During the hearing, doctors told the judge Isaiah suffered "catastrophic" brain damage due to being deprived of oxygen at birth. | During the hearing, doctors told the judge Isaiah suffered "catastrophic" brain damage due to being deprived of oxygen at birth. |
They said Isaiah was in a low level of consciousness, could not move or breathe independently and was connected to a ventilator. | They said Isaiah was in a low level of consciousness, could not move or breathe independently and was connected to a ventilator. |
They also said Isaiah did not respond to stimulation. | They also said Isaiah did not respond to stimulation. |
However, Miss Thomas told the judge: "When I speak to him he will respond, slowly, by opening one eye." | However, Miss Thomas told the judge: "When I speak to him he will respond, slowly, by opening one eye." |
Pain and suffering | Pain and suffering |
"I see a child who is injured. He needs love. He needs care. I have it. I can give it," she added. | "I see a child who is injured. He needs love. He needs care. I have it. I can give it," she added. |
"To say it is so poor, it is not worth living, that is not right. It is not their decision to make." | "To say it is so poor, it is not worth living, that is not right. It is not their decision to make." |
Barrister Fiona Paterson, representing King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said nobody could understand the pain and suffering Isaiah's parents had endured. | Barrister Fiona Paterson, representing King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said nobody could understand the pain and suffering Isaiah's parents had endured. |
However, she said overwhelming medical evidence showed stopping treatment was best for Isaiah. | However, she said overwhelming medical evidence showed stopping treatment was best for Isaiah. |
In his ruling, Mr Justice MacDonald said: "Examining Isaiah's best interests from a broad perspective I am satisfied that it is not in his best interests for life-sustaining medical treatment to be continued. | In his ruling, Mr Justice MacDonald said: "Examining Isaiah's best interests from a broad perspective I am satisfied that it is not in his best interests for life-sustaining medical treatment to be continued. |
"That, with profound sadness, is my judgment." | "That, with profound sadness, is my judgment." |
A spokeswoman for the King's College Hospital NHS Foundation trust said the case had been an "extremely difficult time for Isaiah's parents and all those involved in his care". | |
She added: "The court's decision to transfer Isaiah to palliative care is in his best interests and based on overwhelming expert evidence. | |
"Our priority now is to provide Isaiah with the medical care he needs, working closely with and supporting his parents." | |
Mr Haastrup and Miss Thomas previously submitted a claim for clinical negligence against King's College Hospital, separate to the High Court ruling. | |
The King's spokeswoman said an investigation "highlighted some failings" in its care. | |
"We apologise unreservedly to the family," she added. |