Doctors can stop providing life support to gravely ill child, Alfie Evans, against his parents wishes, the High Court has ruled.
The parents of the 20-month old, who has an undiagnosed illness, have been fighting a legal battle to be allowed to take their son for treatment at the Vatican-owned Bambino Gesù children’s hospital in Rome.
Doctors at the Liverpool hospital believe further treatment for Alfie would be unkind and inhumane, but his parents, Tom Evans, 21, and Kate James, 20, took Alder Hey Children’s Hospital to the High Court in a bid to move him to Italy.
Alfie's condition has left him in what doctors have described as a "deep coma" and with a degenerative brain condition. A ruling given from the Royal Courts of Justice in London said that continued ventilation would compromise Alfie's "future dignity."
Judge Mr Justice Hayden said: “I am satisifed that continued ventilatory support is no longer in Alfie’s interests."
His mother left the court hearing before Mr Justice Hayden reached his conclusion while Alfie's father broke down as the decision was announced, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Today (20 February), the court was given a timeline of Alfie's life, including reports from professionals on his condition and how Alfie shows little response to sounds, light or other stimulants.
However the judge also said that Alfie's father, Tom Evans, disputed some of the evidence provided on observations of Alfie's condition.
Discussing a professor's report into the clinical evidence on Alfie, Mr Justice Hayden said: “In the light of the parents’ entirely understandable concern, a professor was instructed to review the clinical history, the ECGs and the MRI scans.
“It is beyond doubt they confirm a rapidly destructive brain disease."
Mr Justice Hayden said scans which had been ordered by him, and carried out earlier this month, showed Alfie's condition was "ultimately fatal."
PICTURE: Alfie Evans ©Alfie's Army, Facebook
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