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| Baby in right-to-life battle dies | Baby in right-to-life battle dies |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A seriously ill baby, whose parents lost a court battle to keep him alive on a ventilator, has died. | A seriously ill baby, whose parents lost a court battle to keep him alive on a ventilator, has died. |
| The nine-month-old, known as "Baby OT", had a rare metabolic disorder and had brain damage and respiratory failure. | The nine-month-old, known as "Baby OT", had a rare metabolic disorder and had brain damage and respiratory failure. |
| His parents had appealed against a ruling at London's High Court that it was in the boy's best interests to withdraw "life-sustaining treatment". | His parents had appealed against a ruling at London's High Court that it was in the boy's best interests to withdraw "life-sustaining treatment". |
| Baby OT was unable to breathe by himself and died at 1008 GMT after doctors withdrew his treatment. | Baby OT was unable to breathe by himself and died at 1008 GMT after doctors withdrew his treatment. |
| His parents said they were "deeply distressed" by the decision and said the life of their "beautiful boy" was worth preserving. | His parents said they were "deeply distressed" by the decision and said the life of their "beautiful boy" was worth preserving. |
| 'He died peacefully' | |
| The couple said through their solicitor after the death was announced: "During his short time with us, OT became the focus of our lives. We were present during his last moments, together with [his] extended family. | The couple said through their solicitor after the death was announced: "During his short time with us, OT became the focus of our lives. We were present during his last moments, together with [his] extended family. |
| "He died peacefully. We will miss him greatly and wish to say that we are proud to have known our beautiful son for his brief life." | "He died peacefully. We will miss him greatly and wish to say that we are proud to have known our beautiful son for his brief life." |
| Doctors treating him had said the boy's life was intolerable and his disability was such that his life had little purpose. | |
| There is a belief among us... that medicine has the answer to everything. But unfortunately there are occasions where medicine can't do anything Prof Sam LeinsterUniversity of East Anglia | |
| However his parents argued before he died "he experiences pleasure and that he has long periods where he was relaxed and pain free". | |
| The High Court ruling on Thursday gave doctors at an unnamed NHS trust powers to turn off the ventilator that kept Baby OT alive. | The High Court ruling on Thursday gave doctors at an unnamed NHS trust powers to turn off the ventilator that kept Baby OT alive. |
| On Friday two Court of Appeal judges refused the couple permission to challenge the decision by Mrs Justice Parker made after a 10-day hearing. | |
| The baby, his parents and the hospital trust involved in the case cannot be identified, as part of the court ruling. | The baby, his parents and the hospital trust involved in the case cannot be identified, as part of the court ruling. |
| Lord Justice Ward was told the couple had decided to wait outside the courtroom while the ruling was given as they could not face hearing the decision. | Lord Justice Ward was told the couple had decided to wait outside the courtroom while the ruling was given as they could not face hearing the decision. |
| Professor Sam Leinster of the University of East Anglia school of medicine, told the BBC: "My heart goes out to the family, but also to the medical team. | |
| "The court is charged with weighing all the evidence that is put before them. | "The court is charged with weighing all the evidence that is put before them. |
| "There is a belief among us, it's kind of fed by everyone around us, that medicine has the answer to everything. But unfortunately there are occasions where medicine can't do anything." | "There is a belief among us, it's kind of fed by everyone around us, that medicine has the answer to everything. But unfortunately there are occasions where medicine can't do anything." |