The UK readership of Archives will remember October 2004 for Charlotte Wyatt^1,2 and Luke Winston-Jones.^3,4 Charlotte was severely disabled following complications of extreme prematurity, and Luke with trisomy 18. In each case the clinical teams believed that active, life prolonging medical interventions would not be in the best interests of the baby. The cases were brought to the civil courts because fundamental and irreconcilable differences between the families and the clinical teams came to an impasse, leaving the respective hospitals with no alternative but to seek a judicial ruling on the management of each child. Observers from other units will either feel that they have been there too, or dread the time that they may find themselves in similar situations.

We should reflect constructively on these cases and be thankful that they remain rare. Most of the time, even in the most difficult situations, we are able to work alongside parents, …