ARCHIE Battersbee’s parents have asked the United Nations to intervene after losing their life-support treatment fight in the UK.
A spokesperson for the 12-year-old’s family said they had made a “last-ditch” application to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Paul Battersbee and Hollie Dance have begged the Supreme Court to stop a hospital from turning off their son’s life support – they have now asked for help from the UN[/caption]
They want to take the 12-year-old’s treatment to the UN[/caption]
Archie has been in a comatose state since April[/caption]
They said Archie’s parents are arguing the UN committee has a protocol which allows “individuals and families” to make complaints about “violations of disabled people’s rights”.
It comes after the Supreme Court ruled it won’t stop doctors at a London hospital from turning off Archie’s life support machine.
The 12-year-old’s parents had begged senior judges for a stay of execution after a UK court said medics could withdraw ventilation.
Hollie Dance and Paul Battersbee say there are signs Archie may yet recover from his brain injuries.
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But medics at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel say the youngster, who has not regained consciousness since April, has suffered brain stem death.
Archie’s family have faced a gruelling legal fight over the past four months.
Two judges in two separate hearings at the High Court have already ruled life support could lawfully end. Hollie and Paul then took the case to the Court of Appeal.
They wanted Supreme Court justices to bar hospital bosses from stopping treatment until they had time to make an application to the UN.
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The UN has a protocol which allows “individuals and families” to make complaints about violations of disabled people’s rights.
If a complaint was accepted, it would delay the withdrawal of life support while investigations took place.
However, three judges have refused their application, meaning it cannot be taken any further.
The family’s lawyer has told Sky News that Hollie and Paul still plan to try to take the case to the UN or the European courts.
Archie was grievously injured at his Essex home on April 7. It’s believed he was attempting a social media craze called “blackout”, where participants choke themselves until they pass out.
He has been on mechanical ventilation in a “comatose state” ever since after suffering “catastrophic” brain damage.
His distraught parents made a last-ditch legal bid this week.
It was heard on Monday that dad Paul, in his 50s, was feared to have suffered a heart attack or stroke outside a courtroom at the Royal Courts of Justice as the clock ran down.
Hollie believes her son should be given more time to recover on his own.
Earlier this week, she released a video of Archie which she says proves he could breathe without his respirator.
And last month, she said Archie is responding to music and smell.
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“It’s a glimmer of hope,” she said.
“He’s in there and he’s going to wake up. He just needs time.”
