A DOCTOR has backed Archie’s family as he tells a judge of cases where people diagnosed as being dead by “neurological criteria” are proved to be alive.

US-based doctor, Dr Alan Sewmon, who was asked to provide a report by lawyers representing Archie’s family, told Mrs Justice Arbuthnot, on Tuesday that there were “referenced” cases of where “a person diagnosed as being dead by neurological criterion” had subsequently “proved not to be dead”.

Doctors treating Archie Battersbee at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London, think he is “brain-stem dead”.

READ MORE >> High Court judge set to decide over future of Archie in life support dispute 

They say life-support treatment should end and say the youngster should be disconnected from a ventilator

Archie’s parents, Hollie Dance and Paul Battersbee, from Southend, Essex, say the youngster’s heart is still beating and want treatment to continue.

Lawyers representing the Royal London Hospital’s governing trust, Barts Health NHS Trust, have asked Mrs Justice Arbuthnot to decide what moves are in Archie’s best interests.

Mrs Justice Arbuthnot is overseeing a final hearing – due to end today – in the Family Division of the High Court in London.

Dr Shewmon told the judge that there were “referenced” cases of where “a person diagnosed as being dead by neurological criterion” had subsequently “proved not to be dead”.

“There is no diagnostic protocol for either ‘brain death’ or ‘brain stem death’ that enjoys zero risk of false positive error – declaring a live patient dead,” Dr Shewmon, who gave evidence via a video link, told Mrs Justice Arbuthnot.

“The only absolutely sure diagnostic criterion for death is the permanent and irreversible absence of circulation.”

Mrs Justice Arbuthnot has heard that Archie suffered brain damage in an incident at home in early April.

The youngster has not regained consciousness.

Lawyers representing Archie’s family have told the judge that his heart is still beating.

They also say there was an issue as to whether “the correct procedure” had been followed, and whether the “family’s views” had been taken into account.

A campaign organisation called the Christian Legal Centre is supporting Archie’s family.