Good afternoon Andrea,
You may be on holiday and perhaps not had the opportunity to read my two earlier letters but I need to write again due to the importance of 'The Archie Battersbee case' complete with his Wiki page. Undoubtedly Archie has captured the attention of so much of the population no doubt in part due to the quite extraordinary number of TV interviews/MSM and general social media coverage.
I firstly would like to draw your attention to the article Christian Concern published (you wrote it?) on 22nd July as follows:
The story of Archie Battersbee has captured the hearts and garnered the prayers of millions of people around Britain and the world. Archie, a 12-year-old boy from south-east London, suffered a serious brain injury while at home on 7 April and has been convalescing at Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel. The very first night, the doctors told the family he was not going to survive another 24 hours. Two days on, the doctors said he was ‘brain-dead’ and invited the family to discuss organ donation. Yet, over three months later, Archie is still alive, and in one sense, KICKING*.
Your article moves onto say:
It has been, therefore, an uphill battle for Archie’s family to re-open this issue in Court, when the Hospital sought to carry out the test on Archie so as to declare him dead. With the help of the Christian Legal Centre, Archie’s family enlisted the help of an eminent neurological expert and the leading critic of the concept of brain death in the US, Professor Alan D. Shewmon. His evidence to the Court was clear, well documented, not contradicted by any other expert, and could not be challenged in cross-examination.
* (alive and ) KICKING??? How do your words fit with for example the ATTACHED document issued by The High Court of Justice Family Division IN OPEN COURT Royal Courts of Justice Strand, London, WC2A 2LL dated 15th July i.e. written a FULL week before your article and for ease of reference I have copied and pasted some pertinent paragraphs as follows:
5. I will say more, later in this judgment, about what I have learned of Archie’s life and personality. At this point, however, it is important that I address what has happened to Archie as well as what has been done to help him. On the 7th April 2022, Archie was found with a ligature round his neck in the home that he lived in with his mother. I do not know why he did this, nor am I prepared to speculate. His mother was understandably frantic when she made the discovery. She told me that she ran into the street for help AND THEN returned to cut Archie down. The trauma of that day will, I have no doubt, live with her for the rest of her life. She tells me that she has not even begun to process the horrors of that experience. She intimates that is something she will have to address in the future. It is a tragedy of immeasurable dimension for Archie and for his family.
20. A further consequence of the brain’s failure is that Archie’s gut has also failed. In consequence and despite the incredible efforts of all involved, Archie has lost a very significant amount of weight. Along with his fluid loss has been diarrhoea, which makes it difficult to manage the diabetes insipidus. Archie is treated by loperamide to try and slow down the gut to facilitate better food absorption. Again, the medication is endeavouring to replicate that which would ordinarily be stimulated by brain activity. Archie’s nurses and doctors have experimented with feed formulations to see if any are more easily absorbed. They have had some success. Archie now feeds continuously but has ongoing issues with intermittent diarrhoea or constipation. He has become malnourished and this, along with the necessity for repeated blood tests, has led to him becoming anaemic. For this he was treated with an iron infusion, which I have been told, can take two weeks to become effective. Inevitably, anaemia adds to the burdens that have been discussed above. It further increases the risk of infection, intestinal disorders, abnormal heart rhythm and low blood pressure. Archie needs blood tests every hour or two to monitor the acids and salts in his blood. He requires intermittent transfusions. 21. It is distressing to chronical Archie’s circumstances in this way and though his family experience the day-to-day reality of his care, I am acutely sensitive to how upsetting it will be for them to read it, set out, as it must be, in such direct terms. 22. Archie has developed yellow necrotic secretions from the lungs. These are suctioned from the breathing tube; this can indicate infection arising from the breathing machine and the plastic tubing going into his airway. Archie’s inability to cough, swallow, or move renders him more vulnerable to infection.
SEE
You have subsequently written another article 8th August that includes:
What we need is a better system for dealing with these tragic cases. A system where hospitals give parents time rather than rushing into court proceedings. Where parents’ wishes are listened to. Where ‘dignity’*** is not synonymous with dying and where ‘best interests’ are assessed in line with the patient and family’s beliefs rather than utilitarian ideology.
**** What we need is a better system for dealing with these tragic cases. A system where hospitals give parents time rather than rushing into court proceedings. Where parents’ wishes are listened to. Where ‘dignity’ is not synonymous with dying and where ‘best interests’ are assessed in line with the patient and family’s beliefs rather than utilitarian ideology.
SEE
*** Dignity?
**** Where is this leading to Andrea? New legislation for the population re. end of life care?
I note that a 16.4 Guardian was appointed
Also previous mention of any Tik Tok challenge appeared to have been a 'red herring' as per this article:
Finally I'd like you to answer in truth whether you and the various legal people have actually seen ARCHIE'S SOCIAL MEDIA OUTPUT prior to 7th April, 2022? It seems to be totally ;at odds' with your information.
I do hope to receive a response from you very soon.
The public deserve to know the truth. God, Our Creator is watching and waiting and as a representative of an organisation called 'Christian Concern', I am sure you realise the importance of my 'Seeking the Truth'.
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