On Monday it was announced that a High Court judge from the UK ruled doctors could remove life support from severely disabled 11-month-old, Isaiah Haastrup, without his parent’s consent. Isaiah was born via emergency c-section on February 18, 2017, at King’s College Hospital after his mother, Takesha Thomas, experienced a rupture in her uterus.1

Baby Isaiah’s parents have continued to object to removing him from life support but doctors from King’s College Hospital in London argued that it wasn’t in Isaiah’s “interest to prolong his life.”2

Andrew Whitelaw, who provided evidence to the court, said that with no audible heartbeat, respiration, activity or muscle tone when he was born, he was “…near death as it is possible to get and still have heart action started by resuscitation. In former times, he would have been declared a stillbirth.”3

The judgment described a breakdown of trust between Isaiah’s parents and hospital staff, whom the parents hold responsible for Isaiah’s condition (understandably they, therefore, find it difficult to trust their advice about what’s best for their son). It is unclear whether or not they will be taking further legal action against the judge’s ruling.
We are so sorry for everything they have gone through, we cannot imagine. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.

Sources and References

  1. CNN, January 29, 2018.
  2. CNN, January 29, 2018.
  3. CNN, January 29, 2018.