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Life support for Archie Battersbee is expected to be switched off later today (Tues 2 August) after the Court of Appeal rejected a last-minute bid to postpone the ending of his treatment.

The 12-year-old from Southend was found unconscious at his home in April. His family believe he may have been taking part in an online challenge. Archie was brain-damaged as a result, and he's never regained consciousness.

Doctors treating him believe he is brain-stem dead and have consistently argued it is in his best interest for life support to end.

The government asked judges to urgently consider a request from a UN committee to keep treating the 12-year-old. But yesterday, the Court of Appeal refused to postpone the withdrawal of Archie's life-support treatment beyond midday today.

Archie's parents may now ask Supreme Court justices to consider their application for permission to appeal directly.

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Essex speaks to Eileen Fegan, a legal analyst and commentator on medical law and ethics.

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