Indi Gregory’s treatment causes her pain and is futile, medics have said
By Samantha Noble
BBC News
A critically ill eight-month-old baby has been granted Italian citizenship as her parents fight to prevent doctors ending her life support.
Medics in Nottingham have been told by the High Court they can withdraw treatment for Indi Gregory, who has mitochondrial disease.
Indi’s parents oppose the move and an Italian hospital has agreed to continue treating her.
Now the Italian government has made Indi a citizen to support the move.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said she will defend Indi’s life until the end.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, she said: “They say there isn’t much hope for little Indi, but I will do everything in my power to defend her life until the end.
“And to defend her mother and father’s right to do everything they can for her.”
Italy’s cabinet met on Monday to grant the child citizenship, citing “pre-eminent humanitarian values”.
Image source, Family photo
Indi’s parents, Claire Staniforth and Dean Gregory, had previously said they had “given up” their legal battle
Christian Concern, which has been supporting Indi’s parents, from Ilkeston in Derbyshire, said an urgent High Court hearing would take place on Tuesday to consider her life-support removal.
Indi has mitochondrial disease and medics at Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC) have said they can do no more for her.
They said she was dying and told a previous High Court hearing her treatment was futile and causes pain.
However parents Claire Staniforth and Dean Gregory have been fighting the move and Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital in Rome has agreed to provide treatment.
A protest against the ruling was held outside the QMC on Sunday.
An Italian government source told the Reuters news agency the family would be able to appeal to the Italian consulate in Britain to ask that Indi be airlifted to Italy, but there was no obligation for Britain to grant the request.
The news agency reported Galeazzo Bignami, a junior minister, said the government’s move would allow the baby’s transfer to the Bambino Gesu paediatric hospital, and that without it her life support would have been turned off on Monday.
In response to the latest development, Mr Gregory said: “My heart fills up with joy that the Italians have given Claire and I hope and faith back in humanity.”
Dr Keith Girling, medical director at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Cases like this are incredibly difficult for everyone and our thoughts are with Indi’s parents at this very difficult time.
“A hearing to decide whether Indi can be extubated at home or at hospital is now due to be held on Tuesday 7 November.
“Until a decision is made we will continue to provide specialised care for Indi.”
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