On March 1, Court of Appeal judges will hear a challenge by the parents of seriously ill Alfie Evans to Mr. Justice Hayden’s decision rendered Tuesday that doctors may remove the ventilator the 21-month-old boy has been on since December 2016.
The ventilator could have been removed as early as today.
The judge accepted testimony from doctors at Alder Hey Hospital located in Liverpool, England, that although they cannot pin-point what Alfie’s brain injury actually is, further treatment would be futile. Tom Evans and Kate James sought permission to move their son to Italy for further diagnosis and possible treatment–and if they do not succeed, transfer Alfie to Germany.
Following Mr. Justice Hayden’s decision, Evans vociferously insisted he was not giving up. A legal challenge was out of their range, financially, but it was made possible Wednesday when Bill Kenwright, the owner of the Everton Football Club and a theatre producer, donated a large, undisclosed amount towards meeting the roughly $14,000 fee needed to fund an appeal.
According to Tom Belger of the Liverpool Echo
Supporters of the Alfie’s Army movement tonight on Facebook urged people to donate £10,000 needed to fund a legal appeal.
And within hours of the post they reached their target partly thanks to a huge undisclosed donation from the Everton chairman.
Supporters of the Alfie’s Army movement tonight on Facebook urged people to donate £10,000 needed to fund a legal appeal.
And within hours of the post they reached their target partly thanks to a huge undisclosed donation from the Everton chairman.
Alfie’s Army supporter Kayleigh Rebecca wrote: “We couldn’t be more grateful for each and everyone of Alfie’s supporters who have helped!”
Alfie’s auntie Sarah wrote: “Alfie’s Army we got over our target I can refund those who need it anyone who doesn’t I will be getting it sent to the JustGiving you are all amazing xxxx.”
In announcing his decision to turn down Alfie’s parents’ request to take him to an Italian hospital and be extended only palliative care, Mr. Justice Hayden said
“The continued provision of ventilation, in circumstances which I am persuaded are futile, now compromises Alfie’s future dignity and fails to respect his autonomy.
“I am satisfied that continued ventilatory support is no longer in Alfie’s best interest. This decision I appreciate will be devastating news to Alfie’s parents and family.”
Serving as his own attorney through the seven-day-long hearing, Evans contested challenged the hospital’s conclusions that treatment was futile and offered counter-examples that Alfie was responsive.
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Once the judge’s decision was handed down, a furious Evans said he would never give up:
“Can you believe my son is being sentenced to a death sentence with two days to go? …I’m not crying because I know how wrong they are and I know how strong my boy is. My boy is strong, my boy is comfortable. This isn’t over, this is just the start. I am going to take this NHS down. I’m not giving up. My son ain’t giving up. …
“My son is two years of age and he’s been sentenced to the death penalty. How wrong is that?”
“No one – and I repeat no one in this country is taking my boy away from me.”
LifeNews.com Note: Dave Andrusko is the editor of National Right to Life News and an author and editor of several books on abortion topics. This post originally appeared in at National Right to Life News Today —- an online column on pro-life issues.
