Indi Gregory, the baby girl from the UK who had been granted Italian citizenship for treatment in Rome, has passed away after her life support was withdrawn.
The seriously ill baby died on Monday at 1:45am, her father Dean Gregory said today. Baby Indi passed away at a hospice, where she was taken after her life support was withdrawn on Saturday.
Medical staff at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham had said nothing else could be done for Indi, who had mitochondrial disease and had been receiving medical treatment since her birth eight months ago.
Her parents, however, had embarked on a legal battle against the NHS, making the argument that Indi’s life support should have been maintained. They had also brought legal action to so that the baby could be transferred to a hospital in Rome for emergency specialist treatment.
In a statement released through Christian Concern, who supported the parents in their legal fight, Indi’s father Dean Gregory spoke of the family’s heartbreak and anger.
“Indi’s life ended at 01:45am,” Mr Gregory wrote. “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. I knew she was special from the day she was born.
“Claire held her for her final breaths.”
Last week, Giorgia Meloni’s Italian government has granted a critically ill British baby citizenship less than an hour before UK medical staff were set to remove the child’s life support.
The move meant the baby girl from Derbyshire, could go to Rome for treatment if allowed by the UK courts – with Italian Prime Minister Meloni saying that she would do everything in her power to “defend her life” until the end.
Ms Meloni later urgently wrote to the UK’s Lord Chancellor calling on the two countries to officially collaborate on facilitating Indi’s transfer to Rome under the 1996 Hague Convention.
However, on Friday, UK judges ruled against allowing Indi to go to Italy for treatment, stating that Italian intervention in the case would be “wholly misconceived” and “not in the spirit” of the Hague Convention.
Lord Justice Peter Jackson, Lady Justice Eleanor King and Lord Justice Andrew Moylan, refused the family permission to appeal the ruling – ordering that Indi’s life support had to be removed immediately, when the time had been specified. The court also ruled against allowing Indi’s life support to be withdrawn at home.
The Bambino Gesù Paediatric Hospital in Rome had offered to accept Indi for treatment and to carry out the right ventricular outflow tract stent procedure that has been put forward by medical experts in the UK. The Italian government had also offered to fund the treatment, at no cost to UK taxpayers or the NHS.
Indi’s family had sought to move her to the hospital in Rome, seeking a different pathway of care for the child.
Speaking after the Italian Cabinet made its decision last week, Indi’s parents said that the Italians had shown them “care and loving support” and that they wished UK authorities had been the same.
“My heart fills up with joy that the Italians have given Claire and I hope and faith back in humanity,” Indi’s father Dean Gregory said.
“The Italians have shown us care and loving support and I wish the UK authorities were the same.
‘‘I’m very proud to say Indi has Italian citizenship and I thank the Italian government and the Italian people from the bottom of my heart,” he added.
Following Friday’s hearing, Indi’s father Dean Gregory, said: “Claire and I are again disgusted by another one-sided decision from the judges and the Trust. The whole world is watching and is shocked at how we have been treated.
“Claire and I have always wanted what is in Indi’s best interests. She has human rights and we wanted her to have the best treatment possible. If the UK did not want to fund it, why can she not go to Italy and receive the treatment and care which the amazing Italian Prime Minister and government has offered.
Mr Gregory said that while it felt like “the latest kick in the teeth,” the family would “not give up fighting for our daughter’s chance to live until the end.”
Christian Concern, an organisation which been supporting Indi’s family, said they understand that Indi was transferred to a hospice on Saturday by ambulance.
It is understood the baby’s life-support was removed at the hospice and she was provided with further ventilation.
A spokesperson for the Queen’s Medical Centre said: “We are all deeply saddened by the death of Indi and wish to express our heartfelt condolences to her family at this terribly difficult time.
“This has been a very long and challenging journey for Indi, her parents and everyone involved and we will all be holding them in our thoughts.”