A four-year-old boy who was expected to die shortly after his life support was removed has "confounded" medical expectations, a UK judge has said in a ruling. Months before, the High Court ruled that life-sustaining ventilation was not in the child's best interest, after hearing evidence from doctors treating him. The boy, referred to as NR in court records, was born with severe brain abnormalities and his health was deteriorating.
The judge said the "remarkable young boy" had "not only survived but has made progress" and now lived at home with his parents. The judge, Mr Justice Poole, has now lifted declarations which would have allowed doctors to withhold CPR or not provide certain treatments. NR still has significant medical challenges.
Mr Justice Poole said: "I do not wish to minimise the emotional turmoil suffered by Mr and Mrs R and the continuing burdens that NR suffers because of his conditions, but it seems to me to be a wonderful surprise that NR has confounded expectations, that he no longer requires continuing invasive interventions and, in particular, that he has been able to return home to the loving care of his devoted parents." He said that when some orders about treatment were made in January 2024, NR was "suffering many more burdens" and there was "little to no evidence that he could derive pleasure from life, other than the consoling touch of his parents". However, the situation has changed: "Now he can be taken outside, for example to the park.
He can enjo.
