OTTAWA - The Supreme Court of Canada has closed for the day without a decision on whether a two-year-old girl allegedly abused by her parents should be kept on life support.
Lawyers for the child's parents have applied for an emergency stay of an Alberta Court of Appeal ruling that allows doctors to remove a ventilator that is keeping the child alive.
A legal officer with the high court says its justices may work into the evening, but it's not known when they will issue a decision on the case.
Lawyers for the parents and the girl could not be reached for an update on the case.
On Wednesday, Alberta's top court upheld an earlier judge's ruling that it's in the girl's best interest to let her die.
Doctors have testified the girl, who has been in a coma for three months at an Edmonton hospital, has an irreversible brain injury and will never regain consciousness.
The Alberta Appeal Court furthered ordered that the parents be allowed a last visit with the girl. They were escorted to the Stollery Children's Hospital this afternoon.
The parents are charged with aggravated assault, criminal negligence causing bodily harm and failing to provide the necessities of life — charges that could be upgraded if the girl dies.
