Instead, MRI and CT scans were used as evidence – which Dr. Daniel Shewmon, an American neurologist for 40 years, told the court “was not absolutely” the basis for a reliable diagnosis of death in Archie’s case, as they could not distinguish between little or no blood flow to the brain. Describing the case as “tragic”, Judge Arbuthnot said in a written decision: “I find that the irreversible cessation of brain function has been definitively substantiated. “I give permission to the doctors at the Royal Hospital in London to stop mechanically ventilating Archie Battersbee. to pipeline Archie Battersbee. to discontinue medication to Archie Battersbee. and do not attempt any cardio or pulmonary resuscitation on Archie Battersbee when cardiac output stops or respiratory effort ceases. He added that “the steps I mentioned above are legal” and “his position is not going to improve”.
“A disturbing and dark precedent”
The judge said that if he had not concluded that Archie was dead, he would have ruled that it was not in his best interest to remain in life support, as he risked sudden death without the opportunity to say goodbye. Andrea Williams, managing director of the Christian Legal Center, said: “This decision sets a worrying and dark precedent. “This case has raised important ethical, legal and medical questions about when a person is dead.”
