Parents of Sick Toddler Alfie Evans Lose UK Court Appeal
Britain's Court of Appeal today rejected a new bid by the parents of terminally ill toddler Alfie Evans to take him to Italy and continue his life support against the wishes of his doctors and judges.
London, Apr 25 (AP) Britain's Court of Appeal today rejected a new bid by the parents of terminally ill toddler Alfie Evans to take him to Italy and continue his life support against the wishes of his doctors and judges.
Doctors say the 23-month-old boy suffers from a degenerative neurological condition that has left him in a "semi-vegetative state" with almost no brain function. Medics caring for him at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool have said further treatment is futile, and the toddler's life support was withdrawn Monday after a series of court rulings sided with the doctors and blocked further medical treatment.
Alfie's parents continued their fight to take him to Italy to be cared for at the Vatican's children's hospital, which has said it is willing to take him. Three Court of Appeal judges rejected the parents' latest legal bid today. Judge Andrew McFarlane said nothing had changed since a previous court ruling that Alfie's treatment should end.
High Court Justice Anthony Hayden dismissed the parents' case on Tuesday, and said his ruling represented "the final chapter in the life of this extraordinary little boy." It wasn't immediately clear whether Alfie's parents would seek another appeal.
The months-long legal battle between Alfie's parents, backed by a Christian pressure group, and his doctors has drawn interventions from the pope and Italian authorities, who support the parents' desire to have their son treated in Italy.
Paul Diamond, attorney for Alfie's father Tom Evans, said Evans accepted that his son would die but wanted palliative care in line with his Catholic faith.
Alfie's father says the boy has continued to survive with no assistance after life support was withdrawn, and that doctors had subsequently resumed providing oxygen and hydration. On Wednesday he said Alfie was being given food again after 36 hours without it. (AP)
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