A baby who was sentenced to death by the High Court and the Court of Appeal in the United Kingdom died in the early hours of Monday (13). Indi Gregory suffered from a rare disease and her parents fought a legal battle to keep the baby alive. They managed to obtain citizenship for Indi from the Italian government for treatment in the country. However, the Court denied the transfer and ordered the disconnection of the devices that kept her alive.
“My daughter is dead, my life is over. My wife Claire and I are angry, heartbroken and ashamed,” her father, Dean Gregory, told reporters. “The NHS and the courts not only took away his chance to live, but also the dignity of dying in his own home. They managed to take away Indi’s body and dignity, but they will never be able to take away her soul.” added Dean.
The baby suffered from a mitochondrial disorder, which causes malfunctions in the mitochondria and affects the generation of energy in cells. Due to her rare condition, Queen’s Medical Center (QMC), the hospital where Indi was admitted, claimed that there was nothing more that could be done for her and scheduled the device to be turned off due to costs. That’s when the legal battle began.
Worldwide repercussion
The case had great repercussions in Europe and the story reached Pope Francis, who said he was praying for the family and provided the Baby Jesus Pediatric Hospital (Bambino Gesù, in the original language), located in Rome. Someone who also showed solidarity with the case and tried to help was the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, who managed to issue Italian citizenship so that the baby could be transferred to the hospital.
With the document and a hospital with a treatment plan prepared in Italy, Indi’s parents returned to court to appeal the decision, but the judges still refused. “They are preventing us from taking her home, even though she is an Italian citizen,” her father appealed. “The Italian government granted citizenship to little Indi, so give her one more chance”, reinforced Melani. But it was no use.
Following the Court’s decision last Friday (11), Indi was transferred to a Palliative Care Room (Hospice). To avoid demonstrations and conflicts, the ambulance was escorted by the police. The family appealed for the last time, but the Court denied the request again on Saturday. After the devices that kept Indi alive were turned off, the baby remained fighting alone until the beginning of this Monday (13), when she passed away, at 1:45 am (local time). Claire Gregory, the girl’s mother, accompanied her daughter in the room until the end.
After confirming the girl’s death, the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, lamented what happened. “We did everything. Everything that was possible for us, unfortunately, was not enough. Have a safe trip, little Indi.”
