Doctors have told a High Court judge that a critically ill baby with mitochondrial disease is dying. Indi Gregory is being cared for at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, but the hospital has told the court that it can do no more for her and has asked to end her treatment. Indi’s parents want treatment to continue. The judge has allowed journalists to attend the hearing and ruled that Indi, her parents, and the hospital can be named in reports. The medics treating Indi – and a guardian appointed to represent her interests – cannot be named.
The specialist witness described himself as an “expert” in the treatment of seriously ill children. He said Indi’s case was “really difficult” and that on one day, Indi had “nine episodes of resuscitation to keep her alive.” Bosses at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, who have responsibility for Indi’s care, have asked the judge to rule on the case. Mitochondrial disease is incurable.
Barrister Emma Sutton, who is leading the trust’s legal team, told the judge that Indi is “critically” ill. She said Indi had a “devastating neurometabolic disorder,” which was exceptionally rare. Mitochondrial disease prevents cells in the body from producing energy. The NHS says it is incurable.
The doctor told the judge that keeping Indi on a ventilator would only “prolong matters and cause undue pain and suffering,” and that the staff had done the best that they could, and they were “very sad” to have to let her go. “The terrible reality is that she is dying,” he said
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