Hospital wins the right to turn of life support of 11-month-old

The High Court in the UK has ruled that Kings College Hospital in London has the right to turn off the life support machine currently keeping an 11-month-old baby, with brain damage, alive.

The parents of baby Isaiah Haastrup, mother Takesha Thomas and dad Lanre Haastrup, took legal action when the hospital urged them to take their child off the life support, stating that keeping him alive any longer would be ''futile, burdensome and not in his best interests''.

It has now been confirmed today, by Sky News, that the hospital has won the case and can turn off the life support, even if it's against the wishes of the parents. After confirming his judgement, Mr Justice MacDonald said:

"Examining Isaiah's best interests from a broad perspective... I am satisfied that it is not in his best interests for life-sustaining medical treatment to be continued. That, with profound sadness, is my judgment."

Commenting on the decision, Mr Hasstrup said, "We will be speaking to the lawyers to see what they say. Of course, one is disappointed."