King’s College Hospital has lifted the ban on Lanre Haastrup seeing his severely disabled son, saying Isaiah’s treatment will continue while the family takes their fight to the European Courts.
Last Friday, Mr Haastrup lost the latest round of a legal battle over treatment for 12-month-old Isaiah Thomas.
Three Court of Appeal judges dismissed a challenge by Mr Haastrup and Isaiah’s mother, Takesha Thomas.
Isaiah’s parents had complained that a High Court judge was wrong to allow doctors to stop providing life-support treatment to the youngster and move to a palliative care regime.
But Lord Justice Patten, Lord Justice McFarlane and Lady Justice King, who had considered the case at a Court of Appeal hearing in London, said there was no basis for overturning Mr Justice MacDonald’s decision.
They said Mr Haastrup and Miss Thomas, who are both in their 30s and from Peckham had mounted a challenge based on hope, not reality.
Mr Haastrup said they would make approaches to the Supreme Court and European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France.
He said: “I think the Court of Appeal judges are wrong.
“We will try to take our case to the Supreme Court or the European Court of Human Rights.”
After the hearing, Mr Haastrup said he was in the hands of bosses at King’s College Hospital in London, who had imposed a ban after raising concerns about his behaviour.
King’s College Hospital had banned Mr Haastrup from Isaiah’s ward in November last year, and again on 17 February this year.
A spokesperson from King’s College Hospital said on Wednesday morning, shortly before going to press: “The ban was lifted on Friday following the court’s ruling.
“We continue to treat Isaiah pending a decision from the European Court of Human Rights.”
Last week a hospital spokeswoman said the priority was to give Isaiah the care he needed.
She said staff would support his family.
“This has been an extremely difficult time for Isaiah’s family and all those involved in his care,” said the spokeswoman.
“The decision to transfer Isaiah to palliative care is in his best interests and based on expert evidence.
“Our priority now is to provide Isaiah with the care he needs, working closely with and supporting his family.”
Mr Justice MacDonald had analysed evidence at a trial in the Family Division of the High Court in London in January.
Specialists at King’s College Hospital said giving further intensive care treatment to the little boy was “futile, burdensome and not in his best interests”.
They had asked Mr Justice MacDonald to give them the go-ahead to provide only palliative care.
Mr Haastrup and Miss Thomas wanted treatment to continue.
Mr Justice MacDonald ruled in favour of hospital bosses but said doctors should continue treating Isaiah until appeal judges had considered the case.
Reporting by PA and photo credits PA/ Andy Hepburn.