Severely Disabled Two-Year-Old 'effectively Condemned To Death'

[naomi24]

// The devastated parents of a severely disabled two-year-old boy say that he has been 'effectively condemned to death' following a High Court ruling that his life should not be artificially prolonged.....During the hearing doctors said ''further invasive interventions'' would be distressing and burdensome for the child and would have little or no therapeutic benefit.//

http://www.itv.com/news/2016-05-18/severely-disabled-two-year-old-effectively-condemned-to-death-following-high-court-ruling/

Such a distressing case. Poor child, poor parents … but was it the right decision?

[dave50]

Yes it was. Why do we let humans go on suffering but we must put pets to sleep to stop their suffering. It's illogical.

[mikey4444]

I am with dave here.

[Old_Geezer]

Parents, understandably, always want every avenue tried. But who can judge whether the experience is worthwhile for the patient or simply prolonging the nightmare better than the medical profession ? The problem is incurable; further treatment will be unpleasant. Of course there is always the fear that such a decision is made on financial rather than compassionate reasons but without evidence to the contrary I suspect the decision was made in the best interests of the patient.

[cassa333]

The right decision I think.

The health professionals have a duty to the patient not the parents.

But in any case I do not believe in life at any cost. For me it has to do with quality of life and dignity and sadly sometimes with his limited time he has he shouldn't be forced to suffer by his parents.

They undoubtedly love him and in his way he loves them but that is not enough. We treat animals with more compassion than we do our own race. Perhaps we should catch up with animal rights?

[andy-hughes]

What a terrible moral dilemma, as well as a heartbreaking one for the parents.

Any parent will fight to hold on to life for their child, but, as on this occasion, and outside decision has to be taken in the interests of the child, and this appears to have been done.

Life can be so cruel, it's almost unbearable.

[anneasquith]

We may have the technology to prolong this child's life. But sometimes it is kinder to withdraw and " let nature take its course" but............ This is not my child!!!!!!

[woofgang]

yes....sadly from what little we have been told, I think that the Court’s decision was the right one....

[agchristie]

I think it is easier to hold a general belief on issues like this but it is much harder to draw a conclusion on specific cases.

We do not have the benefit of all the details/reports and legal considerations to make a satisfactory decision.

To pick up on woofgang's comment, the problem is self-evident. Can one really be confident 'from the little information'?

There are numerous threads that draw interesting debates on here particularly surrounding criminal cases for example and it is all to easy, as we have seen, to jump in and assume one's guilt. But unless you are sitting on a jury there is always room for plenty of doubt....

[pastafreak]

Such a sad,and difficult case. In cases like this,life can be lengthened,but not be made better. I don't blame the parents,as they must be desperate to keep their son alive...but at what cost?

[jackthehat]

A heart-breaking set of circumstances and not one in which there is ever a 'correct' decision.

I feel for the parents.

[Mamyalynne]

I find it very hard to be dispassionate in these cases and of course it's impossible for these parents to feel that - that's when the Courts kick in because they as a collective can be dispassionate.

Very sad indeed.

[tamborine]

As he is "profoundly neurologically disabled" its the right decision for him but my sympathies to the family.

[viv41]

Of course all parents would hate this, but surely the doctors in this case know what they are talking about ..... Poor little soul.

[agchristie]

From the link:

Solicitor Kavi Mayor who represents the child's parents said: "They are particularly concerned that a prognosis has been given by the doctors when no firm diagnosis has been made.

Doubt piled on top of doubt?