Christian parents of 12-year-old praying for a 'miracle' after court approves withdrawal of medical treatment

The family of a 12-year-old boy with serious brain injuries are praying for a "miracle" after a High Court judge ruled in favour of withdrawing his medical treatment. 

The boy, named only as J, suffered a "profound, severe neurological injury" after being found hanging in his bedroom.

His Christian parents want his treatment to continue, the BBC reports.

In a remote hearing last week, Mr Justice Hayden called it a case of "almost unbearable sadness" but sided with doctors who believe that more care is only "prolonging J's death and not saving his life". 

Medics in Birmingham, where he has been receiving treatment, asked the court to declare that the continuation of medical treatment is not in his best interests. 

In his verdict, the judge was sympathetic but said that all of the consultants had been in "complete consensus" about ending treatment. 

"Nobody has any idea at all why... he did what he did," he said, adding that J had been "profoundly loved in this family". 

"That it should arise in the circumstances of a global pandemic makes it almost unimaginable to those of us not experiencing it," he added.

The judge said mechanical ventilation was required to keep J alive and that the damage to the brain was "so extensive and widespread that he will not make any recovery from this awful episode and keeping him alive will achieve no benefit".

Yogi Amin, of Irwin Mitchel solicitors, who is representing the family, said: "The legal decision to end treatment has been made by the court and the family will continue to pray to God for a miracle." 

News
Pastor says police officer warned him Bible verse could be seen as hate speech
Pastor says police officer warned him Bible verse could be seen as hate speech

A church leader was apparently warned by a police officer that a Bible verse displayed on the back of his campervan could be considered "hate speech" in certain contexts.

Younger generations lead surprising revival in Bible reading
Younger generations lead surprising revival in Bible reading

After years of steady decline, Americans are rediscovering the Bible — and young adults are leading the way.

A Christian response to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor's fall from grace
A Christian response to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor's fall from grace

The danger we run into when we read the public reports of the misdeeds of some person who has become the object of public disgrace is that we become tempted to entertain the idea that we are somehow better in the eyes of God than that person

Anglicans meet in India to tackle modern slavery
Anglicans meet in India to tackle modern slavery

More than a fifth of the world's currently enslaved population are believed to live in India.