Other

Legal Update: Court Report - Application to end life support

Case name: King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust v T and Others 29 & 30 September 2014 Case number EWHC 3315 (Fam)

Judge: Ms Justice Russell

Location: High Court (Family Division)

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust brought an application to withdraw mechanical ventilation in the case of Baby Z; given that the ventilation was "only just sustaining life with no other benefit". Judge Russell applied the best interests test to include the medical, social and emotional factors involved.

The parents objected due to their belief that Z was aware of them and could respond slightly to their presence. They also felt their religious convictions as Christians meant that they did not have the right to withdraw life support.

However, as noted in the judgment, Z was born prematurely with multiple complications and Z's condition had since deteriorated significantly. Having suffered irreversible injury to the brain there was no medical evidence that Z could "hear, see or interpret anything of the outside world" except for responding to the pain which the invasive procedures used to keep him alive produced.

Register Now to Continue Reading

Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's Included

  • Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month

  • Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector

Register

Already have an account? Sign in here


More like this

Hertfordshire Youth Workers

“Opportunities in districts teams and countywide”

Administration Apprentice

SE1 7JY, London (Greater)