The parents of a brain-damaged boy are waiting to hear whether they have won a Court of Appeal fight after a High Court judge decided doctors could stop providing life-support treatment to the youngster.
Mr Justice MacDonald earlier this year ruled that 12-month-old Isaiah Haastrup could be allowed to die against his parents’ wishes.
Three appeal judges analysed a challenge by Lanre Haastrup and Takesha Thomas, who are both in their 30s and from Peckham, south-east London, on Wednesday at a Court of Appeal hearing in London.
They are listed to deliver a ruling on Friday.
Isaiah Haastrup with his aunt Dahlia Thomas (Irwin Mitchell/PA)
Mr Justice MacDonald had analysed Isaiah’s case at a trial in the Family Division of the High Court in London in January.
Specialists at King’s College Hospital in London said giving further intensive care treatment to the little boy was “futile, burdensome and not in his best interests”.
They had asked Mr Justice MacDonald to give them the go-ahead to provide only palliative care.
Mr Haastrup and Miss Thomas wanted treatment to continue.
Mr Justice MacDonald ruled in favour of hospital bosses but said doctors should continue treating Isaiah until appeal judges had considered the case.
– Mr Haastrup has lost a legal fight after being barred from visiting King’s College Hospital. He had asked a High Court judge to overturn a ban imposed by hospital bosses but Mr Justice Mostyn on Thursday dismissed his application.
The judge said Mr Haastrup had not demonstrated any legal error by hospital bosses or shown that they had acted irrationally. The judge said that, in any event, the ban was being reviewed.
Lawyers representing hospital bosses said Mr Haastrup had lost his temper at the hospital during the evening of February 17 and been threatening towards staff.