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
Religious ‘nones’ reach record high in US
Religious ‘nones’ reach record high in US

Only 47% of Americans say religion is ‘very important’.

Even our secular mainstream media can see where the real hope for this nation lies
Even our secular mainstream media can see where the real hope for this nation lies

I do not recall reading such a strong plug for the Bible and Christian faith in a column covering lifestyle and entertainment.

Keir Starmer praises role of churches in communities
Keir Starmer praises role of churches in communities

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told 300 delegates at a faith and policy event in London that churches “play an irreplaceable role at the heart of communities.”

How much do we value Jesus: thirty pieces of silver or our supreme treasure?
How much do we value Jesus: thirty pieces of silver or our supreme treasure?

Is Jesus at the centre of our lives or somewhere on the margins?