Parents oppose palliative care application for brain-injured son

High Court president Ms Justice Mary Irvine said she would admit the boy into wardship and give her reasons later. Picture: iStock

A hospital wants High Court orders permitting it to withhold invasive interventions and administer a palliative care regime for a boy whom they believe has little prospect of a “meaningful” recovery after suffering a catastrophic brain injury in a car crash.

The young boy’s parents oppose the orders, including ones which would allow the hospital not to resuscitate him in the event of cardiac arrest. His doctors say such invasive interventions will not alter his prognosis, may cause him pain and distress and are not ethically justified.