Life Sustaining Treatment not best for baby

In a decision handed down last week, Mrs Justice Lieven declared that it was not in the best interests of a baby to receive life-sustaining treatment.

In Rotherham MBC v ZZ, in the Family Division, the Judge acceded to applications made by two NHS Trusts- Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust and Sheffield Children's Hospital that previous declarations requiring treatment should be set aside. The baby was born without most of his brain due to undetected hydranencephaly, a life-limiting condition which has left him blind and deaf and probably unaware of anything other than pain. His mother had not known she was pregnant, and relinquished him at birth (not then knowing of his condition). Sam Karim QC represented the local authority, and Simon Burrows represented Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust.

Read the full judgement here.