Doctors can stop providing life-support treatment to a five-year-old girl who has suffered brain damage and is in a vegetative state, a High Court judge has ruled.
Specialists treating Pippa Knight at the Evelina Children’s Hospital in London said life-support treatment should end.
Hospital bosses had asked Mr Justice Poole to rule that ending treatment, and allowing Pippa to die, would be lawful and in her best interests.
Pippa’s mother, Paula Parfitt, 41, of Strood, Kent, disagreed.
Ms Parfitt wanted Pippa to be placed on a portable ventilator and allowed home.
“Ms Parfitt has fought as hard for Pippa as any parent could,” he said in his ruling.
“Responsibility for the decisions in this case lies with the court, not with her. My conclusion is that continued mechanical ventilation is contrary to Pippa’s best interests.”
He added that he “cannot give weight to Ms Parfitt’s view that home care would improve Pippa’s condition, because it is at odds with the unanimous view of the clinicians and medical experts”.
The judge delivered his ruling at a remote hearing.
