Archie Brain Injury: Judges rule Archie Battersbee in coma needs brain test

A judge has approved testing to see if Archie who suffered “catastrophic” brain damage in a home incident over a month ago is brain-dead.

At a private hearing in the Family Division of the High Court on Friday, 13 May, Mrs Justice Arbuthnot issued a decision after reviewing the latest stage of Archie’s case. Ms Dance had pleaded with the judge to give her gymnast son “more time.”

Hollie Dance, however, wants to keep her 12-year-old son Archie Battersbee on life support, but his doctors think he’s already brain dead. Before deciding whether or not to remove Archie’s life support, Hollie and Archie’s father, Paul Battersbee, want to give him more time to see whether his health improves.

Ms Dance said ‘I’ve declined the brain stem tests that would allow him to be declared brain dead.’ It’s far too early. ‘He has tightened his grasp on my fingers. That’s probably his way of telling me he’s still here and just needs a little more time.