Isaiah Haastrup: Hospital 'admits liability' in brain damaged baby case

Isaiah, pictured with an aunt, suffered "catastrophic" brain damage due to being deprived of oxygen at birth

Hospital bosses have admitted liability for "events surrounding the birth" of a 12-month-old boy who died after a High Court battle, a judge has been told.

Isaiah Haastrup suffered "catastrophic" brain damage after being deprived of oxygen at birth. He died in March 2018.

A High Court judge had given doctors permission to provide only palliative care - against his parents' wishes.

King's College Hospital Trust has settled a medical negligence claim with the family, the High Court heard.

"We are sincerely sorry for the events surrounding Isaiah's birth and we have apologised unreservedly to his family," it said.

"Since Isaiah was born in 2017, a number of improvements have been made in our maternity service, including enhanced mandatory and escalation training, to maximise safe care."

The Family Division of the High Court is considering lifting a court order preventing the naming of the medics involved in Isaiah's care.

Lanre Haastrup and Takesha Thomas did not want their son's life-support treatment to be stopped

A barrister who represented Isaiah's father told the court on Wednesday that King's College Hospital Trust has now "admitted liability for the events surrounding Isaiah's birth".

Isaiah's parents, Lanre Haastrup and Takesha Thoma, fought a lengthy legal battle with the hospital to allow further care for their son.

They had asked the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to intervene after losing two court battles in the UK, but the case was dismissed by judges.

Doctors said Isaiah was in a low level of consciousness, could not move or breathe independently and was connected to a ventilator.

King's College Hospital in London said providing further intensive care treatment was not in his best interests.

A coroners inquest into Isaiah's death is under way.