A date has been set for the Court of Appeal in London to evaluate an appeal from the parents of Indi Gregory against a judge’s ruling to remove life support from their seven-month-old child. The court will hear the case at 2 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 23, to determine whether the appeal is allowed.
Justice Robert Peel, a judge in the British High Court, ruled on Oct. 13 to remove life support from the infant, who suffers from a rare mitochondrial disease and heart complications, claiming that it is in her “best interests” to do so. The judge made the ruling after the Nottingham University Fellowship Hospital Trust (NUH) submitted an application to remove life-sustaining treatment from the child.
Peel called continuing Indi’s treatment “futile,” adding, “The significant pain experienced by this lovely little girl is not justified when set against an incurable set of conditions, a very short life span, no prospect of recovery and, at best, minimal engagement with the world around her,” he said in his ruling.
Indi’s parents, Dean Gregory and Claire Stainforth, immediately decided to appeal the court decision and continue to defend the child’s life with the support of Christian Legal Centre (CLC), the legal arm of Christian Concern. On Wednesday, they announced that the hearing for their appeal was confirmed. “We as a family are prepared to do whatever it takes to fight for the life of our beautiful daughter, Indi,” Gregory said.
Gregory said he feels as though the Fellowship Hospital Trust has been granted the permission it wanted to give his daughter a death sentence. “During her short life,” he said, “Indi has proved everybody wrong and deserves more time and care from the NHS (National Health Service) rather than seeking to end her life as soon as possible,” he said. He expressed doubt about whether the judge’s decision was in the best interests of his daughter or the trust.
Keith Girling, a medical doctor at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said of the Oct. 13 hearing, “This High Court hearing was challenging for everyone involved and our thoughts are with Indi and her family at this difficult time. We acknowledge the ruling handed down today and our priority will remain to provide Indi specialized care appropriate to her condition, and support her family in every way possible. Cases like this are incredibly difficult for everyone involved and our clinical team will continue to act in the best interests of our patients and do all we can to advocate for them and support their families as needed.”
CLC Chief Executive Andrea Williams argues that life is precious and should be protected by law, no matter the circumstance. “We must give people every chance to live rather than end their lives prematurely by saying it’s in their best interests to die.”
The decision to appeal and the scheduled hearing have extended the “stay of the order,” keeping Indi’s treatment the same until at least 4 p.m. on Oct. 23. If the Court of Appeal in London approves Gregory and Stainforth’s appeal, another hearing will be scheduled.
“Indi can definitely experience happiness,” her father expressed. “She cries like a normal baby. We know she is disabled, but you don’t just let disabled people die. We just want to give her a chance.”
Photo: Christian Concern