Indi Gregory, a baby diagnosed with a mitochondrial disease, has died after a UK judge ruled her life support could be removed against her parents’ wishes.
Doctors at Nottingham University Hospital’s NHS [National Health Service] Foundation Trust claimed Indi needed to be removed from life support so as not to prolong the process of her death. Her parents disagreed, though, arguing that Indi was disabled — not dying.
“Our daughter responds to us, and on her good days she is babbling, making noises, moving all her limbs. She can definitely experience happiness. She cries like a normal baby,” her parents said in a statement last month. “We know she is disabled, but you don’t just let disabled people die. We just want to give her a chance.”
Amid a court battle to save Indi’s life, Italy granted Indi citizenship, and the Vatican City’s children’s hospital, Bambino Gesù, said it was willing to provide Indi care. “They say there isn’t much hope for little Indi, but until the end I will do what I can to defend her life. And to defend her mum and dad’s right to do everything they can for her,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said.
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However, that request to care for Indi was denied by Mr. Justice Robert Peel. “There is nothing to suggest that Indi Gregory’s prognosis would be beneficially altered by the Italian hospital’s treatment,” he said, arguing that it was in Indi’s best interest to die instead. Her parents appealed that decision, but a judge denied that request as well.
Just days later, Indi’s life support was removed and she passed away on November 13.
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“Indi’s life ended at 01.45am. Claire and I are angry, heartbroken, and ashamed. The NHS and the Courts not only took away her chance to live a longer life, but they also took away Indi’s dignity to pass away in the family home where she belonged,” her father, Dean Gregory, said in a statement. “They did succeed in taking Indi’s body and dignity, but they can never take her soul. They tried to get rid of Indi without anybody knowing, but we made sure she would be remembered forever. I knew she was special from the day she was born. Claire held her for her final breaths.”
Sadly, the plight suffered by the Gregory family is becoming increasingly common, as British hospitals and courts refuse to allow parents to make medical decisions for their children. S.T., a British teenager, died after she was denied the ability to receive treatment, even as she passionately said she wanted to spend her last days fighting to live. Little Charlie Gard had also been diagnosed with a mitochondrial condition and died against his parents’ wishes. Baby Alfie Evans was likewise killed by the British system, which spent $188,000 USD ensuring that he died.
