Life support for a terminally ill 8-month-old baby, Indi Gregory, will be withdrawn in a hospice or hospital, according to a ruling by a judge at Britain’s High Court. The parents of the baby, who suffers from a rare metabolic disorder called mitochondrial disease, have been fighting to continue life support for their child. However, the judge stated that doctors can lawfully limit invasive treatment because it would not be in the child’s best interests.
This case is just one of many similar cases in Britain that have sparked debates between doctors and parents regarding the treatment of terminally ill children and the rights and responsibilities of both parties. Justice Robert Peel supported the medical specialists’ evidence from the Queen’s Medical Center in Nottingham, stating that treatment for Indi should be withdrawn in a hospice or hospital.
Indi’s parents had hoped to take her to Italy, where the Vatican’s pediatric hospital, Bambino Gesu, offered to care for her. However, the judge ruled against this option, deeming it “too dangerous” due to clinical complications. He also previously stated that a transfer to Italy would not be in the baby’s best interests, a decision backed by the Court of Appeal judges.
Indi’s parents, supported by the campaign group Christian Concern, plan to appeal the ruling. Additionally, the Italian hospital’s general manager, who has been appointed as Indi’s guardian, seeks an urgent meeting with the Queen’s Medical Center.
Mitochondrial disease, for which there is currently no cure, causes a patient’s cells to produce insufficient energy for proper operation. In Indi’s case, the fatal disease has resulted in progressive brain damage, leaving her reliant on life support.
Justice Peel’s decision remains unchanged despite offers from the Italian government to airlift Indi to the Vatican hospital and cover treatment costs. The Italian government has also granted Indi citizenship to facilitate her transport and treatment. However, the judge stated that the proposed treatment from the Vatican hospital lacked detail and showed no evidence of improving Indi’s quality of life. He emphasized that continuing treatment would only perpetuate her pain and suffering.
Indi’s father, Dean Gregory, expressed his disappointment in doctors and British courts for disregarding the Italian government’s offer. He pleaded with the British government to intervene and prevent his daughter’s life from being taken away.
The decisions made by British judges and doctors in cases involving terminally ill children have faced criticism from Christian groups, politicians in Italy and Poland, and others who believe that the parents’ wishes should be prioritized. Under British law, the primary consideration in such cases is whether a proposed treatment is in the best interests of the child.
