Baby ‘RB’ allowed to die

By Lucy Halfhead  on Wednesday 11 November 2009

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A severely disabled baby at the centre of a ‘right to life' court battle will be allowed to die after his father withdrew his opposition.

According to reports in The Times, doctors and the one-year-old child's mother had gone to the High Court for permission to switch off the infant's life support system. But yesterday the father backed down on the seventh day of an emotionally charged High Court hearing, saying that he realised everything had been done for his son.

In a moving statement, the judge, Mr Justice McFarlane, paid tribute to the parents' care for the boy, recognising the ‘immense stress' they had suffered - at the cost of their relationship.

Lawyers for the health authority caring for the baby in intensive care told Mr Justice McFarlane: ‘All of the parties in court now agree that it would be in RB's best interests for the course suggested by the doctors to be followed.'

The statement went on: ‘They have been at his bedside daily these last 13 months. RB is a dear little boy, adored by his parents, family and the hospital staff. RB's parents and the trust will now make suitable arrangements to bring RB's life to a dignified end in consultation with his parents.'

The boy was born in October last year with what is thought to be congenital myasthenic syndrome, a rare neuromuscular condition that severely limits the ability to breathe and move limbs.

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Wednesday 11 November 2009

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