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

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
'Passion' star Jim Caviezel recalls the time Jesus appeared to him
'Passion' star Jim Caviezel recalls the time Jesus appeared to him

Actor Jim Caviezel recently claimed that Jesus Christ supernaturally appeared to him more than 20 years ago as he was considering whether to take the starring role in "The Passion of the Christ," Mel Gibson's 2004 film depicting the Crucifixion. 

Frasier star Kelsey Grammer says standing up for Jesus is worth the cost
Frasier star Kelsey Grammer says standing up for Jesus is worth the cost

Emmy Award-winning actor Kelsey Grammer has said he’ll never deny his faith in Jesus Christ, even if standing by his beliefs comes at a personal cost, and shared why he believes Christians have a responsibility to remain steadfast in an increasingly fractured culture.

Why John Stott’s ‘Christian Counter-Culture’ still challenges the church
Why John Stott’s ‘Christian Counter-Culture’ still challenges the church

After more than 45 years, John Stott’s teaching on the Sermon on the Mount remains a fresh challenge to a church too comfortable with the world.

MP challenges plans to light up Belfast City Hall in support of abortion on Easter Sunday
MP challenges plans to light up Belfast City Hall in support of abortion on Easter Sunday

Carla Lockhart MP has spoken out against plans to light up Belfast City Hall in support of abortion on Easter Sunday.