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'This is UNJUST': Outrage after Archie Battersbee's family refused permission to move him to hospice

'Horrible don't even have control over own child. Sad,' a user tweeted

In a shocking turn of events, the High Court has dismissed the last appeal of Archie Battersbee’s family. The parents – Hollie Dance and Paul Battersbee – of the 12-year-old UK boy wanted him to die peacefully in a hospice after all their pleas were rejected to keep him on life support.

But on Friday morning, August 5, a judge declared that Archie should be at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, East London, for his final moments before life-saving treatment will be stopped. The boy has been in the hospital in a coma since April, when he was found unconscious after participating in a dangerous online challenge.

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Announcing her decision, ​​Mrs Justice Theis said, “Archie’s best interests must remain at the core of any conclusions reached by this court. When considering the wishes of the family, why those wishes are held, the facilities at the hospice, what Archie is likely to have wanted, … the risks involved in a transfer … and the increasing fragility of his medical condition, I am satisfied that when looking at the balancing exercise again his best interests remain as set out (in the ruling of July 15), that he should remain at the hospital when treatment is withdrawn.”

She added, “The circumstances outlined by Dr F of the physical arrangements at the hospital and the arrangements that can be made will ensure that Archie’s best interest will remain the focus of the final arrangements to enable him peacefully and privately to die in the embrace of the family he loved.”

However, the decision has left several people disheartened on the internet. A user tweeted, “Horrible don't even have control over own child. Sad.” Another shared, “What a tragedy, this is so unjust. I do wonder if this was a child of the elites would he be given up on so easily? Would his family be dismissed by a kangaroo court?” A third noted: “Can not imagine the heart brake every parents night mare one thing is for sure Archie mother proved how much a fight she had in her the hardest hurt in the world to see your own child in this dreadful situation my heart goes out to Archie’s mum family right now ❤️❤️😢.”

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A person expressed, “💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 such horrible news thinking of his parents at this terrible time.” Another posted, “Having not had to make this decision I don't feel we have a right to have a go at the poor parents 💔  a heartbreaking situation for anyone to have to face 😢  my thoughts are with Archie   his family and all the doctors and nurses no winners here 💔.” A tweet criticizing the court read: “Joke court system. Condemn a boy to die. Then don’t let him go to a hospice citing ‘he may die in transit’ due to their decision to let him die in first place! UK system is messed. The way they all stitch people up hospitals and legal system. God forbid anyone gets ill go abroad.”