Archie Battersbee's mother makes last ditch appeal to Health Secretary

Archie's parents have appealed to the UN. (Photo: GoFundMe)

The mother of Archie Battersbee has written an urgent letter to the Health Secretary urging the government to prevent his life support from being withdraw.

The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) has told the government to keep the 12-year-old alive while it considers an application by his family. 

Despite the UN CRPD's injunction, the hospital trust caring for Archie has said it plans to go ahead with removing his life support on Monday. 

The government is yet to respond to the UN CRPD interim measures.

In her letter to Health Secretary Stephen Barclay, Archie's mother, Hollie Dance, said it would be "an extraordinary cruelty" and a "flagrant breach of Archie's rights as a disabled person" if doctors remove his life support. 

"Archie is entitled to have the decisions about his life and death, taken by the NHS and UK courts, to be scrutinised by an international human rights body. Hastening his death to prevent that would be completely unacceptable," she said. 

"I trust that you will now act immediately, as a member of the government responsible for the NHS, to ensure that this does not happen, and our country honours its obligations under the international human rights treaties which we have signed and ratified."

News
Why I will still read Philip Yancey’s books
Why I will still read Philip Yancey’s books

Pastor Kelly Williams explains why he will continue to read - and recommend - Philip Yancey's books despite his admission of moral failure.

Syrians are 'tired' of war, says nun
Syrians are 'tired' of war, says nun

The civil war may be over, but the violence continues.

Churches join in day of prayer for Crans-Montana victims
Churches join in day of prayer for Crans-Montana victims

Prayers and church bell ringing will coincide with a memorial service.

Lincoln Cathedral seeks ancient secrets with full GPR scan
Lincoln Cathedral seeks ancient secrets with full GPR scan

Lincoln Cathedral has become part of a pioneering project to use ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to uncover the secret history of the site.