Another British Medical Futility Court Case -Tafida Raqeeb

The UK has another pediatric medical futility case. Clinicians at Royal London Hospital doctors said there is no hope that Tafida Raqeeb will recover from the traumatic brain injury she suffered in February. They say further invasive medical treatment is "futile."

Like some other recent high-profile cases, the family has found a hospital (in Italy) willing to accept a transfer. This is a very common dispute resolution pathway in these cases. Indeed, it is mandated in many US statutes. The current clinicians are relieved of administering care they deem inappropriate. And the family gets the treatment they think appropriate. Everyone gets what they want.

But this dispute resolution pathway does not work the same way with minor patients. The UK courts ruled correctly in the Alfie Evans and Charlie Gard cases. One a determination has been made that the requested treatment is not in the child's best interests, the parents have no authority to make the transfer.