Isaiah Thomas, the severely disabled baby boy whose parents fought to keep on life support, has died in hospital, confirmed his father.
Lanre Haastrup said his son, who was left brain damaged during birth, died at 7.50pm on Wednesday, March 7, and thanked well-wishers for their support.
He said Isaiah breathed independently for seven hours after his ventilator was removed, before his death.
Mr Haastrup and Isaiah’s mother, Takesha Thomas, were both at Isaiah’s side when his life support was turned off on Tuesday afternoon.
King’s College Hospital had banned Mr Haastrup from Isaiah’s ward in November last year, and again in on February 17 over concerns about his behaviour, but the ban was lifted on Friday, February 23.
A King’s College Hospital spokesperson said: “Isaiah Haastrup suffered an irreversible brain injury following a rare and life-threatening obstetric emergency during his mother’s labour.
“Since birth he had been fully dependent on life support with no prospect of improvement, and throughout we actively sought to engage and involve Isaiah’s parents in his care.
“The best interests of our patients must always come first.
“The Trust always provided Isaiah with the very best care and the decision to apply to the Court to withdraw treatment was only made after careful consideration and after consultation with the family.
“In Isaiah’s case, the High Court ruled that overwhelming expert and independent medical opinion supported the declaration sought that withdrawing treatment was in his best interests.
“Subsequently, neither the Court of Appeal nor the European Court of Human Rights reversed the original decision of the High Court.
“We recognise that this has been an extremely difficult time for Isaiah’s family as well as those involved in his care since birth.
“As Mr Justice MacDonald wrote in his judgement ‘no one can imagine the emotional pain of the parents’.
“The thoughts of everyone at the Trust are with them at this time.”
On Tuesday, the European Court of Human Rights rejected Mr Haastrup’s legal challenge to keep Isaiah’s life support on.
It said the decision, taken by three judges, was final.
Isaiah’s parents had taken their legal challenge to the European Court after the UK’s Court of Appeal upheld a previous judgement in favour of moving the baby into palliative care.
Lord Justice Patten, Lord Justice McFarlane and Lady Justice King, who had considered the case at a hearing in London last month, said there was no basis for overturning Mr Justice MacDonald’s previous decision in favour of switching off Isaiah’s life support.
Mr Haastrup paid tribute to his son, and said: “I’m am proud to have been your father and I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you. I am proud of you son.”