This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/8337369.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Father fights to keep son alive | Father fights to keep son alive |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| A father is fighting a hospital's attempt to withdraw support keeping his baby son alive. | A father is fighting a hospital's attempt to withdraw support keeping his baby son alive. |
| The one-year-old, known as Baby RB for legal reasons, was born with a rare, genetic muscle condition that makes it hard for him to breathe independently. | The one-year-old, known as Baby RB for legal reasons, was born with a rare, genetic muscle condition that makes it hard for him to breathe independently. |
| His parents are going to the High Court - the mother is reportedly supporting the hospital's bid. | |
| The father's lawyers argue that the boy's brain is unaffected, meaning he can see, hear, interact and play. | The father's lawyers argue that the boy's brain is unaffected, meaning he can see, hear, interact and play. |
| Despite having to remain in hospital and being dependent on a ventilator to breathe, he enjoys having stories read to him and listening to music, they say. | Despite having to remain in hospital and being dependent on a ventilator to breathe, he enjoys having stories read to him and listening to music, they say. |
| The lawyers are submitting video footage to the court, which they say shows him playing with his toys. | The lawyers are submitting video footage to the court, which they say shows him playing with his toys. |
| 'Tragic case' | 'Tragic case' |
| But the hospital says that Baby RB's quality of life is so low that it would not be in his best interests to try to save him. | But the hospital says that Baby RB's quality of life is so low that it would not be in his best interests to try to save him. |
| Baby RB was born with congenital myasthenic syndrome and has been in hospital since birth. | Baby RB was born with congenital myasthenic syndrome and has been in hospital since birth. |
| Both parents, who are said to be "amicably separated", have spent long hours at their son's bedside. | Both parents, who are said to be "amicably separated", have spent long hours at their son's bedside. |
| Christopher Cuddihee, a solicitor acting for the father, told The Sunday Telegraph: "This is a tragic case. The father feels very strongly that Baby RB has a quality of life that demands the trust should continue to provide life-sustaining treatment. | Christopher Cuddihee, a solicitor acting for the father, told The Sunday Telegraph: "This is a tragic case. The father feels very strongly that Baby RB has a quality of life that demands the trust should continue to provide life-sustaining treatment. |
| "The father clearly adores his son and hopes to demonstrate to the court that the trust's application should be rejected." | "The father clearly adores his son and hopes to demonstrate to the court that the trust's application should be rejected." |
| An estimated 300 people have CMS in the UK, with varying degrees of severity. | An estimated 300 people have CMS in the UK, with varying degrees of severity. |
| Some who inherited the condition die soon after birth, while others can expect to live a relatively normal life with medication. | Some who inherited the condition die soon after birth, while others can expect to live a relatively normal life with medication. |