Archie Battersbee

I don't suppose they have grasped any of it to be honest. It must be horrific.

A hospice would provide peace, dignity, and a calm environment.
I hope Archie manages to make it there, and nature takes its course.
A hospice won't strive to preserve life, so all of the equipment won't be needed.

Won’t he die as soon as he’s off the machine though MissA if he can’t breathe for himself he won’t get to the hospice without it will he ?

he is in London, the capital of our country - where our Royal family live and loads of very wealthy people. I'm sure someone can fund the transport

I don’t want to go into more detail. It is a very painful situation for anybody that has had somebody they love on life support but there will be only a interval of minutes after the removal of life support.

BlueBelle

Won’t he die as soon as he’s off the machine though MissA if he can’t breathe for himself he won’t get to the hospice without it will he ?

Sadly you’re right BlueBelle. The BBC News website confirms he won’t be moved to a hospice, and I’m sure that’s why.

I'm sure the NHS, Drs and nurses have done their best but I can't think of anything worse than being forced to watch your child die in an environment in which has felt so hostile

It's not a case of funding.

I doubt it's feasible.

His parents will be able to lie with him when the ventilator is switched off and nature will take its course.

Quite an interesting article about brain dead patients and how journalists pick up on these cases. A brain dead patient is dead. But we read about people who've made miraculous recoveries but these patients are comatose or brain damaged, not brain dead.

www.healthnewsreview.org/2016/08/if-you-are-brain-dead-you-cannot-also-be-kept-alive-on-life-support-an-important-nuance-and-the-news-medias-failure-in-emotionally-charged/

All in all it's an incredibly sad situation. I feel for his parents. Unbearable for them.

Taking him to a hospice is pointless. He is already dead. All his vital needs are being provided by machines. Nature has already taken its course.

Sorry MISSADVENTURE I can only speak for myself but if that was my son the last thing I would want to hear is that he was being discussed on an online chat group where people are giving different opinions on the situation....

They've done what they felt is right for their son. I find it difficult to criticise them

I don’t see how a move can be achieved. There is an enormous amount of equipment that will be needed to sustain his body during the move. Hospital staff from the ICU will need to accompany the move and remain at the Hospice so I’m afraid those “hostile” staff will still be a part of his care even if the transfer could be achieved.

And it could be for several weeks or even months more if life support continues. Until the heart and lungs have decayed to the extent they cannot be mechanically stimulated.

It is horrific but it can be peaceful and supportive in a hospital ICU. It’s very sad that that hasn’t been possible for this family.

Poor Archie, such a tragic ending to a young life. No one can anything but sympathy for him and his family, I can’t imagine how hard it must be to let go.

His mother has just said that there are options available in other countries that they’re not being offered in the UK - does anyone know what they could be? She also seems to be implying that this an execution of a disabled child, which I think is very hard on the medics who’ve kept Archie going for four months so far.

If it was me, I wouldn't have laid my grief bare to the press, and, inevitably the world in the first place, but his parents are doing what feels right for them.

Mine, the family are well aware that their tragic case is being discussed everywhere. All social media, FB, Twitter, Reddit etc., news outlets such as Sky are filled with comment. GN is a tiny site that most people aren't aware of.

The family have wanted this to be publicised. Most cases like this don't end up going to court. They're never discussed, except with immediate family and friends.

It’s is a desperately sad situation, I have no idea how I would respond if it was my child. I feel particularly for the parents who are facing a battery of ‘information’ from various sources. Not sure who decided to go public, cases do happen that are not in the public domain until well after the final chapter.
I admire the hospital staff for their professionalism and humanity.

Lathyrus

There is, in theory, no limit to how long a body can be kept in a functioning state on life support. All the necessary functions are carried out by the machine.

What happens is that the major organs, which are no longer in use, begin to decay and the body starts to rot from the inside. I’m sorry to be so blunt but that is what happens. There is no “natural death” on life support.

Lathyrus You have my sympathy for the tragedies you have faced, but I find it curious that it is those of us, who have faced these events in our own families, who are most clear sighted about the state and condition, physically, this poor child is in. It surprises me how many haven't taken on board that this little boy is dead, and has been for some time.

For the parents I have the utmost sympathy. They are separated and I think he is an only child, it is not surprising that most of these cases that go to court, do involve parents and only children, but that people with no involvement should also be unable to look clearly at the facts and also seem to want to believe that the outcome could still be doubtful, or cannot accept that Archie has already died, I find quite strange.

Lathyrus, I did not say the staff were hostile. I said they feel the environment hostile.

The above was sent as a PM. Why is it on the thread?

Monica, that is a very presumptuous post.

I didn’t mean to misquote you. I’m sorry.

It's a matter of showing empathy for his parents.
Nothing whatsoever to do with holding onto hope where there is none.

His parents want him to die naturally, however that comes about, and I see nothing wrong with that, even if it is misguided.

He has to be allowed to die with dignity, it’s the last thing anybody can do for him. I think that means that the staff who have been caring for him for the last three months, and are used to dealing with and removing equipment sensitively be allowed to do so, and to provide his parents with the best environment they can before, during and after his death.

I’m just wondering Misadventure what you think a natural death will be?

This is not to be unpleasant to you. I genuinely wonder what you think would happen?

Casdon

He has to be allowed to die with dignity, it’s the last thing anybody can do for him. I think that means that the staff who have been caring for him for the last three months, and are used to dealing with and removing equipment sensitively be allowed to do so, and to provide his parents with the best environment they can before, during and after his death.

This is so true.

It would be lovely to think he could be taken to a tranquil place.

But it really doesn't happen that way.

He needs to be in hospital.