British High Court Authorizes Withdrawal of Life-Sustaining Treatment from 12-Year Old J over Parents' Objections

In April 2020, a 12-year-old boy, J, was found hanging in his bedroom. As a result of a lack of oxygen to the brain and cardiac arrest, J suffered a "profound, severe neurological injury."

Doctors at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust asked the High Court to make a declaration that withdrawing intensive care was in his best interests. But the child’s parents, who are devout Christians, opposed the application and argued treatment should continue to give their son a chance to recover.

Mr. Justice Hayden agreed with the trust that treatment was "prolonging J’s death and not saving his life." The court ruled that withdrawing intensive care was in J's best interests. "The damage to his brain is so extensive and widespread that he will not make any recovery from this awful episode and keeping him alive will achieve no benefit."