The baby’s parents are not only “heartbroken” but also furious: “The British Health Service and the courts have not only taken away Indi’s opportunity to live, but also her dignity of dying in her own home.”
English girl Indi Gregory, who suffered from a rare mitochondrial disease and was taken off life support, has died. The information was reported by the child’s father, according to Italian media. The Rome government granted the eight-month-old child Italian citizenship last week to allow him to receive treatment at the “Bambino Gesu” children’s hospital. The Pope also prayed for the child.
“My daughter died, my life ended at 1:45 am today. My wife Clare and I are angry, heartbroken and ashamed,” said Dean Gregory, Indi’s father. “The UK Health Service and the courts have not only deprived Indi of her chance at life, but also of her dignity to die in her own home. “They managed to take away Indi’s body and dignity, but they can’t take away her soul,” said her father.
Was not allowed to be treated in Italy
An English court of appeal ruled against Indi Gregory’s transfer to Italy. The Vatican hospital “Bambino Gesu” agreed to welcome the child.
Indi Gregory suffered from a rare form of mitochondrial pathology that doctors considered incurable. After English judges refused to grant her parents’ appeal, the girl received non-essential treatment at the Queen’s Medical Center in Nottingham and was transferred to a hospice, where she died.
“Pope Francis embraces the family of little Indi Gregory, her father and her mother, prays for her and directs his thoughts to all the children who, at these times, throughout the world, suffer pain or risk their lives because of the disease and war.” said the head of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, on Saturday. (APA)