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Anon at 08.48, you said "As far as I am concerned IF there is a proven and moreover succesful treatment that is available in another country.." - but there is not. In this case, there is not a proven or successful treatment available. There is a a completely unproven and experimental treatment which even the Doctors in America offering the treatment accepted was very unlikely to help this little boy.

I think anyone can understand why the parents wanted to try, but the court has to think about the child himself, and whether it is right to prolong his suffering.

I don't think that either the Judge, or the doctors, think that they are god. They are trying to make incredibly hard decisions and trying to put the child at the centre of those decisions.

It is also worth bearing in mind that sometimes where there are these kind of heartrending choices to be made, it can be helpful for parents to have the decision made for them. Having to bear the knowledge that you agreed for life support to be withdrawn from your loved one can be very hard indeed, I have personal knowledge of at least one person who ought against such an order, because they felt that they had to do everything in their power to keep their family member alive. However, after the court made its decision they were able to accept that it was the right thing for the patient herself, and that knowing that they had done everything they possibly could was a source of comfort to them as they grieved.

It is very rarely a simple or easy question with a single right or wrong answer.

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