Archie Battersbee’s mum felt ‘backed into a corner’ by court system
Published13 minutes agoSharecloseShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Hollie DanceThe mother of Archie Battersbee, who died when his life support was withdrawn, has said she felt "backed into a corner by the system". The 12-year-old, from Southend, Essex, died on 6 August following a legal battle between his parents and doctors.Hollie Dance said she had asked for a meeting with the health secretary to discuss the role of the NHS and High Court in cases similar to Archie's. The Department of Health and Social Care said it had received the request. A spokesman said: "The department was in the process of commissioning a review into the causes of disagreement in the care of critically ill children as set out in the Health and Care Act 2022."He added the department would respond to Ms Dance's letter "in the coming days".Reflecting on her experience, Ms Dance, 46, said she felt like she was on an "emotional rollercoaster". She believes her son might have been taking part in an online challenge when she found him unconscious at the family home on 7 April. Doctors at the Royal London Hospital, in Whitechapel, believed it was "highly likely" Archie was brain stem dead and took the case to court, asking judges to decide what was in Archie's best interests. However, Ms Dance has said she did not feel like her son was given enough of a chance to recover. She said communication with Barts NHS Health Trust, which runs the hospital, "broke down from the start" after it took the case to court. "I feel we were stripped of all our rights and backed into a corner by the system and, I've explained before, it felt like we were on trial," she said.Image source, PA Media"Change is needed. As if it's not a traumatic time enough, you're faced with fighting the system... I wasn't prepared to do that, we were backed into a corner. It was the hospital that took us to court, not the other way round."She added: "It was hard, stressful and unnecessary, we need change."The hospital has previously said "treatment was withdrawn in line with court rulings about his best interests". Hundreds attend vigil for Archie BattersbeeArchie Battersbee 'fought until the end', says mumHow did Archie Battersbee's case end up in court?Several court hearings were held over a four-month period.Judges sided with the hospital, with Mr Justice Hayden of the High Court's family division saying continuing treatment was "futile" given the medical evidence. The family had asked the courts to grant permission for them to move Archie to a hospice for his final days so they did not have to say goodbye in a busy hospital environment but their application was refused.Doctors warned he was too unstable to move by ambulance and it would "hasten premature deterioration".Ms Dance said Archie was surrounded by family and friends when he died but described his last moments in the hospital as "awful".But she said she had no regrets about taking on the legal battles. Image source, Hollie DanceShe said: "He was brilliant, I'm so honoured to be his mum. They were 12 of the best years of my life with that little boy."If I had to go through it again, I would still fight equally as hard for Archie or any of my children. It was awful, there was so much stress on everyone involved, it's heart breaking.""It drained me, I was anxious all the time. I felt exhausted, it was an emotional rollercoaster," she added. She said she had requested an urgent meeting with Health Secretary Steve Barclay to discuss the way the NHS and the Family Division of the High Court make decisions in end of life cases like Archie's. She has also called for a public inquiry. Image source, PA MediaIn the weeks since Archie died, the family has also experienced their first big milestones without him."It was my daughter's 21st birthday yesterday... no-one really feels in a celebrating mood," she said. "That was hard. We went to a restaurant we'd never been to without Archie but we're getting through it... just taking every day as it comes."Continuing to fight is one way she is trying to move forward after her son's death.She said: "I've got to have something positive out of this tragedy."I'm taking each hour as it comes. One minute I feel strong, the next it's flashbacks. Then I feel OK again and then numb - it's a constant rollercoaster of emotions."
Timeline: How the story unfolded
7 April 2022
Archie is found unconscious by his mother after an incident at their home in Essex. He is taken to Southend Hospital.
8 April
Archie is transferred to The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel where he has been treated ever since.
26 April
The NHS trust that runs the Royal London starts High Court proceedings by asking for Archie to undergo brain stem testing.
13 May
Mrs Justice Arbuthnot rules that brain stem testing should be carried out.
16 May
Two specialists try to administer brain stem function tests, but they are unable to as Archie did not respond to a peripheral nerve stimulation test, a precursor to the brain stem test.
25 May
A hearing is held to decide if further MRI scans should be conducted. Archie's parents did not consent on the basis that moving Archie could harm him.
27 May
The court approves further MRI scans, which are carried out on 31 May.
6-8 June
A final hearing is held to hear evidence on whether Archie's life-support treatment should continue.
13 June
The High Court judge rules that Archie is "dead" based on MRI scan results and that treatment could be withdrawn.
20 June
The family ask the Court of Appeal to reconsider the case.
29 June
The Court of Appeal says that a new hearing to determine Archie's best interests should take place.
11 July
A new hearing is held in the High Court with evidence given before Mr Justice Hayden.
15 July
Mr Justice Hayden rules that life-support treatment should end, saying continuing it is "futile".
25 July
Three Court of Appeal judges support the High Court ruling that treatment can end.
28 July
The Supreme Court rules out intervening in the case and supports the Court of Appeal ruling.
29 July
The family make an application to the United Nations.
30 July
A UN Committee writes to the UK government asking for a delay in withdrawing treatment while they consider the case.
31 July
The government asks for an urgent hearing to review the case.
1 August
The Court of Appeal refuses to postpone withdrawal of treatment until the UN can hear the case.
2 August
The Supreme Court refuse the family's application for permission to appeal the Court of Appeal ruling.
3 August
European Court of Human Rights refuses an application from the family to postpone the withdrawal of Archie’s life support.
4 August
Archie's parents make a legal application to move their son to a hospice for end of life care.
5 August
A High Court judge rules that Archie cannot be moved to a hospice for withdrawal of treatment.
6 August
Archie passes away at the Royal London Hospital after treatment is withdrawn in line with court rulings about his best interests. Members of his family are at his bedside.
Show more
Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected] on this storyArchie Battersbee's family call for investigation7 AugustHundreds attend vigil for Archie Battersbee3 days agoArchie Battersbee: 'He fought until the end'6 AugustHow did Archie Battersbee's case end up in court?6 AugustArchie family devastated as legal routes exhausted6 August
