Critical time for coma toddler

By PATRICK GOWER

Doctors treating a critically ill Northland toddler are due to decide today whether she can live without the aid of a life-support system.

The 28-month-old toddler was in a coma when she was delivered to hospital on Sunday after ambulance officers were called to a house in Whangarei.

She had severe head injuries, a broken arm and cuts, bruises and cigarette burns over her body.

A woman has been charged with assault and remanded in custody after a court appearance on Monday.

The toddler is being kept in a medically induced coma on a life-support system in the critical-care unit of the Starship children's hospital in Auckland.

Detective Dean Walford of Whangarei said doctors were waiting to give the girl a brain scan before deciding when to take her off the life-support system.

"Once they find the right time to do it they are going to turn the life-support system off and see whether she can live without it or not."