SPUC has expressed feelings of deep sadness following the death of eight-month-old baby Indi Gregory, who died after having her life support removed.
Indi, who was born with a rare genetic condition, was at the centre of a legal storm as her parents battled to keep their daughter alive. Parents, Dean and Claire Gregory maintained that despite her disability, Indi was a happy baby who was responsive to their touch.
Despite pleas from Indi’s family, Mr Justice Robert Peel ruled that it was in the ‘best interest’ of Indi to have her life support removed.
Prior to Indi’s death, parents Dean and Claire asserted that their daughter should be allowed to have her life support removed at home. Lord Justice Peter Jackson, Lady Justice Eleanor King and Lord Justice Andrew Moylan denied Indi’s parents their final wish to take Indi home for extubating.
They ordered that Indi’s life-support should be removed immediately. Indi was transferred to a hospice.
The ruling was made despite Indi being granted Italian citizenship and her Italian guardian making an urgent application to the UK High Court.
It was revealed that the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, urgently wrote to the UK’s Lord Chancellor, outlining the urgent application and calling for the two countries to officially collaborate on facilitating Indi’s transfer to Rome for further treatment in a bid to save her life.
The Bambino Gesù Hospital in Rome had agreed to accept Indi for treatment and to carry out the procedure that had been put forward by medical experts. The Italian government also offered to fund the treatment at no cost to the NHS or UK taxpayer.
Lord Justice Peter Jackson, Lady Justice Eleanor King and Lord Justice Andrew Moylan described the intervention of the Italian government, to try and save Indi’s life, as “wholly misconceived.”
Powerless before courts to keep their child alive
SPUC’s Michael Robinson, Executive Director (Public Affairs and Legal Services), said: “The prevailing theme in this case is that of the culture of death in the UK showing its ugly face once again.
“Where the culture of life says, 'You are valuable, we will do all we can to help you, whatever the financial cost', the culture of death says, 'You are but one of many to consider, keeping you alive will put a huge burden on finances and resources'.
“Yet again, we have a tragic case of the rights and interests of parents being ignored in favour of those of the State.
“It is a tragedy that parents like Dean and Claire are left powerless before courts to keep their child alive.
“Everyone at SPUC is keeping Indi’s family in their thoughts and prayers during this time.”
Remembered forever
In a statement released by Indi’s father, Dean Gregory said: “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.
“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.”