Critically-ill baby dies after life support withdrawn

8 month old Indi Gregory- from Derbyshire- has been at the centre of a legal battle.

Author: Ella BicknellPublished 13th Nov 2023
Last updated 14th Nov 2023

Indi Gregory has died after specialists withdrew life-support treatment following a legal battle by her parents, campaign group Christian Concern said.

The 8 month old had her life support treatment withdrawn over the weekend, after being moved from the Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham to a hospice.

Dean Gregory and Claire Staniforth, from Ilkeston, wanted specialists to keep treating their eight-month-old daughter Indi Gregory.

But the couple, who were supported campaign organisation Christian Concern, lost fights in the High Court and Court of Appeal in London.

High Court judge Mr Justice Peel had ruled limiting treatment would be lawful, and doing so would be in Indi's best interests.

In a statement released via Christian Concern, Dean Gregory said: "Indi's life ended at 01.45. 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. I knew she was special from the day she was born.

"Claire held her for her final breaths."

Her parents failed to persuade Court of Appeal judges and judges at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, to overturn that treatment decision.

The couple also failed in a bid to transfer Indi to a hospital in Rome.

Mr Justice Peel ruled a move to Italy would not be in Indi's best interests and Court of Appeal judges backed that decision.

Judges heard Indi, who was born on February 24, has mitochondrial disease - a genetic condition that saps energy. Doctors argued continued treatment would be "painful" and "futile" which Indi's parents disputed.

The judge said specialists involved in Indi's care could not be named - nor could the hospice where she has been moved to.

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