UK Court Rejects Parents’ Appeal To Save Their Terminally Ill Child

It’s like Charlie Gard all over again.

Meet sweet Alfie Evans.

He’s a terminally ill toddler in the UK. According to reports, he’s in a “‘semi-vegetative state’ and has a degenerative neurological condition doctors had not definitively diagnosed.”

The hospital in Liverpool has given up on him. They want to pull the plug, but his parents are begging to save him. In fact, they found a way out. Alfie was granted Italian citizenship on Monday, meaning he could be transferred to a hospital in Rome and receive new treatment. The doctors there are more than willing to do so.

However, a stupid High Court judge decided to crush their hopes. The judge instructed doctors to stop treating Alfie.

The Italian Foreign Ministry said it hoped the decision would allow for the toddler’s ‘immediate transfer’ to a hospital where Alfie’s father Tom Evans, 21, and mother Kate James, 20, say doctors are willing to treat him.

But a High Court judge last night dismissed a last-ditch appeal by Alfie’s parents to delay and mount a further challenge, as Mr Justice Hayden gave doctors the go-ahead to stop treatment and said Alfie still came under the jurisdiction of British courts.

It came as protesters gathered outside the hospital and tried to storm the building, forcing police to guard the entrance before Mr Evans told supporters a withdrawal of life support could be regarded as murder.

Can you believe that? A judge instructing doctors to stop treating your child? Unbelievable. There’s a by-product of big government for you.

Last night barrister Paul Diamond, who represents the couple, told the judge that Alfie had been granted Italian citizenship on Monday, saying there was now an ‘international relations element’ to the case.

But Mr Justice Hayden dismissed Mr Diamond’s application, saying it amounted to a ‘last-ditch appeal’ and said Alfie was a British citizen and ‘habitually resident in the UK’, meaning the High Court had jurisdiction.

Doctors in Liverpool have said the flight to Italy would be too difficult for him and UK courts, including the Supreme Court, have upheld their decision. Yesterday morning the European Court of Human Rights refused to intervene in the case.

Speaking outside the hospital yesterday evening, Mr Evans: ‘I’m stood here now and Alfie is still here. Why? Because I’m still fighting for him, I’m still fighting and so is Alfie. I have been in touch with the Ambassador of Italy. My son belongs to Italy. I love Alfie and I love Kate, I will not give up.’

They shouldn’t have that decision made FOR them. They shouldn’t HAVE to give up.

April 23rd 2018👉🏾the day millions in the UK rejoiced at the birth of one baby boy deemed perfect while on the same day the Italian government,in an attempt to help,granted citizenship to another baby boy #AlfieEvans in the UK who has been deemed imperfect. History will remember https://t.co/V3DwKmvZPQ

— Obianuju Ekeocha (@obianuju) April 23, 2018

Moved by the prayers and immense solidarity shown little Alfie Evans, I renew my appeal that the suffering of his parents may be heard and that their desire to seek new forms of treatment may be granted.

— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) April 23, 2018

The courts won. No appeal could soften a hardened state that sees citizens as subjects. Prayers up please. https://t.co/XlU2BoHp7Y

— Stacey Lennox (@ScotsFyre) April 23, 2018

Alfie Evans has been sentenced to die, and his life support will be removed against his family’s wishes. European courts and @AlderHey Hospital have wrongly kept Alfie captive, refusing to allow his parents to take him to another hospital. #AlfiesArmy https://t.co/5pqSaARNL9

— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) April 23, 2018

If Italy is willing to grant Alfie Evans citizenship (which it has!) and if the parents are determined to save his life (they are!), how dare the state prevent him from being flown out of Britain for treatment. This is about natural parental rights that precede the state!

— Sohrab Ahmari (@SohrabAhmari) April 23, 2018

The hospital wasted no time to take him off life support.

Baby #AlfieEvans has been taken off his ventilator, protesters show up in force at the British hospital. Italy and the Pope both getting involved – @GovMikeHuckabee is here to discuss 11p @FoxNewsNight

— Shannon Bream (@ShannonBream) April 24, 2018

BREAKING: Alder Hey Hospital in the U.K. has removed the life support of toddler Alfie Evans, who is seriously ill. Alfie has been able to sustain his own life for a few hours, but he needs oxygen — and the hospital is refusing to provide it. https://t.co/qSnFUBXXT1

— Live Action (@LiveAction) April 23, 2018

#alfieevans Been breathing for over 2 hours now, proved he’s not brain dead. But now hospital are depriving him of oxygen which will ultimately lead to the brain being affected. Worsening his condition. They’d rather a child die than admit to their mistakes.

— SamanthaJane (@samanthajanexc) April 23, 2018

“He is needing oxygen but the hospital won’t give him any,” Alfie’s father said. “I don’t know what to do. He’s not suffering. He is losing his color and his fingers are going slowly blue but he is able to sustain his life.”

“He needs to be oxygenated and they won’t oxygenate him,” he added. “All he needs is some oxygen. He is starting to need oxygen and the hospital are refusing to give him that.”

I can’t even imagine that. This feels like a state ordered killing. HONESTLY.

This is heartbreaking and everybody should be aware of the injustice being done to #AlfieEvans. The parents want to keep him alive, but the state has decided his life isn’t worth saving. Nor will they let him leave to be treated elsewhere. Absolutely despicable. https://t.co/lPbGpf6GAf

— Matt Lepire (@MattLepire) April 24, 2018

Prayers going up for this family and sweet Alfie. They shouldn’t have to go through this.

h/t Daily Mail