I've thought about making a topic on this for a while but I have put it off.

 

For those unfamiliar with the case, Archie Battersbee is a 12 year old boy who by most accounts, took his own life by suicide. When eventually found, he was given the best care possible, placed in ICU but ultimately declared brain dead. What has transpired since is a very bitter case of a grieving mother vs the NHS and the legal surroundings life support being taken away. Now, this case is propped up by the Christian Legal Centre, who have used this to fund their agenda (which will no doubt turn to abortion rights in the near future).

 

Losing a child is something that I cannot compare and I have the upmost sympathty to Archie's mother. I know (like I am sure a lot of us do here) know what it is like to suffer grief and the things it does to you. I'd like to think when the dust has settled, Archie's mother and family will come to understand the rulings of the many health professionals and the courts.

 

Can totally understand the family not wanting life support removed, but the poor child was braindead with no hopes of recovering. The Christian Legal Centre have a lot to answer for, RIP Archie.

I think while this is obviously a horrible situation to be in and I cannot possibly imagine how they must feel, I think you need to listen to the experts here and if there is absolutely no way he can be saved, then they have a right to take him off life support, as it's just prolonging suffering at that stage. Indeed this whole thing being dragged out isn't good for anyone involved worst of all the mother, it's just making things worse, accepting the loss and having closure is surely the first step for them to be recovering from this trauma.

This is a truly horrible situation and what his mother went through is auful but there are others who need life support and need the machine. Good Bless His Soul RIP Archie Battersbee

Edited August 7, 20222 yr by Y'all Starlight

Awful and sad case, I can't even begin to imagine what the family went through.

 

Whilst I completely understand his mum fighting so hard for treatment to continue, it felt a bit like it was just delaying the inevitable and I'm not sure it was beneficial for anyone concerned - least of all Archie.

:(

 

What online challenge was he doing, do we know? Some of these "challenges" are disasters waiting to happen, especially for your children. I completely understand why they fought so hard; although the medical evidence was clear, ir is only natural to fight. I wonder if they'd found him maybe a minute earlier, if MAYBE he would have survived, although with extensive brain juries. It's impossible to know. Tragic situation. Furious about that online challenge!!! It basically killed a boy.

:(

 

What online challenge was he doing, do we know? Some of these "challenges" are disasters waiting to happen, especially for your children. I completely understand why they fought so hard; although the medical evidence was clear, ir is only natural to fight. I wonder if they'd found him maybe a minute earlier, if MAYBE he would have survived, although with extensive brain juries. It's impossible to know. Tragic situation. Furious about that online challenge!!! It basically killed a boy.

 

There is zero evidence he was doing an online challenge. I am not a huge fan of TikTok, but this is one myth that was peddled by the mother after speaking to her friends, who suggested placing a ligature over his head was part of an online challenge. Allegedly Archie has been excluded from three different schools and posted lots of depressive material on his TikTok account (which has now been deleted) and by a lot of accounts, was suffering from depression.

The TikTok challenge in question makes no mention whatsoever to hang yourself. It is to hold your breath until you pass out, which is impossible to do by yourself as your body will force you to take a breath eventually.

 

As tragic as this is, what he did was commit suicide and his mother is trying to blame anyone else, whether it’s TikTok, the NHS, the courts etc instead of looking into why he was suicidal in the first place.

I had heard about a „ligature“ challenge that’s supposedly killed two kids under 10 in the US but it’s really impossible to know all the facts without anything more than an agenda driven media coverage as your starting point.

 

I feel for this family, I truly do. But they need to follow and actually listen to the medical professionals. At least if they insist on keeping him on life support where there is zero chance of life, they should be picking up the bill as it’s against all NHS advice and numerous court orders. Not to be heartless, but the NHS don’t have bottomless pockets.

 

What’s really insidious is the vile hanger ons exploiting and manipulating the family for PR, shady motives or some wholly nasty BS. Like this Christian fundamentalist group or that Tory MP who turned up with a f***ing jubilee flag, pic of the queen and a 50.000$ smile. Ghoulish

terrible situation. It's hard to get over having to watch a loved one die. The NHS needs more funds to support emotionally troubled young people to try and head these issues off wherever possible, as well deal as the physical side of things and the aftermath. It's impossible not to get political about the starving of funds after a promise placed on the side of a bus that people voted for. The NHS is in crisis and those responsible are doing everything they can to divert attention away from it and the reasons for it.