A British High Court judge has refused doctors permission to withdraw life-sustaining ventilation from an 18-month-old boy at the heart of a landmark right-to-live case.
His parents, from the north of England, who fought for ventilation to be continued, were present at the London courtroom as Mr Justice Holman announced his ruling on their son's fate.
Their child, who can only be referred to as MB for legal reasons, suffers from spinal muscular atrophy - an incurable and progressively worsening condition leading to complete paralysis.
The judge heard medical opinion that MB's life was "intolerable", but his parents pleaded with him not to grant an application brought by a hospital trust to withdraw life-support because continuation was not in his best interests.
Reading out his lengthy ruling, Mr Justice Holman said he was not persuaded that it was "currently in the best interests" of the boy to discontinue ventilation with the inevitable result of immediate death.
It is believed to be the first case of its kind involving a patient who is not in a persistent vegetative state.
AP
