The High Court of England has ruled 21-month-old Alfie Evans life support may be turned off as early as Friday against his families wishes. Baby Alfie has been a patient at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool with a mystery brain condition that doctors have not have been able to diagnose. Alfie's parents Tom Evans, 21, and Kate James, 20, have filed in the Court of Appeal against the decision of the Honourable Mr. Justice Hayden and a hearing is scheduled March 1.
Doctors at Alder Hey Children's Hospital believe that there is little hope for the child who has been in a semi-vegetative state for the last year.
His parents disagree with the hospital and have been trying to take him abroad for treatment since July 2017 and were denied.
They believe he should be moved to Bambino Gesu Paediatric Hospital in Rome, Italy so that they could possibly receive a diagnosis and treatment for his condition The family also have tried to negotiate with the hospital about Alfie's care and were told nothing else could be done. MRI’s shows that Alfie's brain has deteriorated and is filled with white matter. The hospital then made a request to shut off Alfie’s life support. The child's condition is so rare that it could be named after him.
Mr. Justice Hayden who has presided over the case stated, “further treatment would harm his dignity and that it was inhumane to keep him on life- support.
Justice Hayden continued to state,” he has lost the ability to see, hear, or respond to touch due to catastrophic degeneration of his brain. Plans to take him to Italy was not in his best interest, reported by The Guardian.
Parent's
Tom Evans believes that the court has sentenced his son to death. Alfie's parents who have been around him more than anyone else provided evidence that their son does response and that it is being ignored.
Mr. Evans has requested that doctors take a step back and see things from a parent's point view. They believe that there is still hope for their son especially when no one knows for certain what is wrong with the child and will not stop fighting for his right to life.
One doctor from Germany who examined Alfie filed a report about his condition and stated that he does not understand why the hospital would just let the child die.
The report also went on to say that taking him off life support and just letting him die is not in his best interest and that he should be able to live with his parents. The doctor also reported that in Germany doctors must listen to parents, via Mirror.
Alfie Evans
Alfie was born May 9, 2016, and according to his parents, his was born a normal healthy baby. Within a few months, his parents began to notice he was not developing like he should. He was not lifting his head, grabbing at things and only making eye contact for a few seconds. The baby also began having jerking motions and clenching his fists; his mother took him to the doctors who claimed that he was just being lazy. Then in December 2016, he was admitted to the hospital with what doctors thought was bronchitis.
His infection seemed to clear up, but then it returned, and he was placed on a ventilator. He has been in the hospital ever since, according to Sarah Evans, via Justgiving.
Alfie's case is similar to Charlie Gard’s. Baby Charlie’s parents also found themselves in a life and death battle over their son. Charle was diagnosed with mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome, a rare genetic condition. Charlie's parents had also argued and urged the doctors and court to allow their son to travel outside of England, but doctors concluded that he no chance of survival. His parents tried to take him to the United States for experimental treatment even President Trump and Congress offered Charlie Gard and his parents U.S citizenship in the hopes to try and save him, but the High Court denied their pleas. Charlie passed away July 28, 2017.
