Judges in the UK have doubled down on their order to remove a terminally ill infant from care rather than allow the parents to seek treatment at the Vatican.
Judge Robert Peel ruled Wednesday that 8-month-old Indi Gregory was to be she was taken off her life-support ventilator on Thursday despite the parents’ wishes. The appeal of the case has been dismissed and the child has been ordered to be removed from child support immediately.
“Claire and I are again disgusted by another one-sided decision by the judges and the Trust. The whole world is watching and shocked at how we have been treated,” said Father Dean Gregory, according to Christian Concern, their legal adviser on the case.
THE DEFINITELY ILL UK BABY TAKES LONGER TO LIVE AS PARENTS FIGHT JUDGE TO BRING HER TO VATICAN HOSPITAL
This photo shows six month old Indi Gregory. The Italian government on Monday granted Italian citizenship to a terminally ill eight-month-old British baby girl after upholding court rulings in Britain authorizing the withdrawal of invasive life-sustaining treatment. (Family Leaflet/PA via AP)
The courts sided with Peel’s order on Friday, refusing Dean and Claire Gregory an appeal.
Senior UK judges Lord Justice Peter Jackson, Lady Justice Eleanor King and Lord Justice Andrew Moylan of the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, ruling that the Italian government and the Vatican were “totally misguided” in trying to take the sick infant into their custody.
The Italian government, in an attempt to stop the British healthcare system from pulling Indi’s life support, granted the child citizenship so she could continue treatment there.
UK JUDGE RULES FOR ENDING LIFE FROM TERMINALLY ILL BABY DESPITE TREATMENT ATTEMPTS
Pope Francis visits the ward where children who arrived from Ukraine are treated at the Bambino Gesu hospital in Rome. (Vatican Media/Pool/GG/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)
Edi Gregory was born in February this year and suffers from a degenerative mitochondrial disease that is very likely to take her life.
Leadership in the Vatican — in collaboration with the Italian government — have prepared resources for Indi to continue treatment at the Bambino Gesù, a Catholic pediatric hospital in Rome.
“Claire and I always wanted what was in Indi’s best interest. She has human rights and we wanted her to get the best possible treatment,” the baby’s father said of the decision. “If the UK didn’t want to fund it, why can’t it go to Italy and get the treatment and care that the amazing Italian Prime Minister and government have provided.”
AUTISTIC AND INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED SUICIDES IN NETHERLANDS, RESEARCHER FINDS
This undated family brochure photo shows six-month-old Indi Gregory. The Italian government on Monday granted Italian citizenship to a terminally ill eight-month-old British baby girl after upholding court rulings in Britain authorizing the withdrawal of invasive life-sustaining treatment. ((Family Leaflet/PA via AP))
He added, “This feels like the final kick in the teeth and we will not stop fighting for our daughter’s chance to live to the end.”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who previously approved citizenship for Indi and has campaigned aggressively for her transfer, is said to be in contact with the UK Lord Chancellor seeking international cooperation.
“They say there is not much hope for little Indi, but until the end, I will do everything I can to defend her life and defend the right of her mom and dad to do everything they can for her. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote on social media this week.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni speaks during a visit to the Green Park neighborhood in Caivano, Italy. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Italian consul Matteo Corradini ordered the UK to hand over jurisdiction to the child’s designated Italian guardian due to “imminent danger to Indi’s life”, according to Christian Concern.
