harris78
Phil Nevs Pointy Finger
As a Father of three girls absolutely breaks my heart reading this. Dad's a blue aswell. Apologies if this has already been posted.
https://news.sky.com/story/alfie-evans-further-treatment-for-seriously-ill-baby-inhumane-11232372
Alfie Evans: Further treatment for seriously ill baby 'inhumane'
Tom Evans, 20, is fighting for doctors to continue treating his son, who is on life support at Liverpool's Alder Hey hospital.
19:32, UK,Thursday 01 February 2018
Image:Alfie was born in May 2016 and has suffered from an unknown condition
Alfie Evans was born in May 2016 with a degenerative neurological condition which doctors have not been able to definitively diagnose.
His parents, Tom Evans and Kate James, want him to have continued treatment, but doctors argue it would be "futile".
In the High Court in Liverpool today, the hearing had to be adjourned for 20 minutes for Mr Evans' parents and sisters to comfort him, as he wept while he heard evidence that life support should be turned off.
Image:Tom Evans and his mother outside court in Liverpool
The parents of the 20-month-old believe he responds to them, but medics have said he is suffering spontaneous seizures as a result of being touched.
Michael Mylonas QC, representing the hospital, said: "One of the problems of this case is they look at him and, barring the paraphernalia of breathing and feeding, he's a sweet, lovely, normal-looking boy who opens his eyes, will smile..."
Mr Evans, 20, broke down when he heard this evidence, and a break was called in proceedings.
Mr Mylonas later continued by saying Alfie had suffered "catastrophic degradation of his brain tissue" and could only breathe with intervention.
He regularly has fits, triggered by touching.
Image:Supporters waved banners outside the court before the hearing
At the request of Mr Evans and Ms James, three medical experts from the Vatican-linked Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital in Rome had visited but they had reached the same conclusions of "complete futility" of treating the baby.
Mr Justice Anthony Hayden, hearing the case, said he'd had the "privilege" of meeting Alfie, and added no one could blame the parents for trying to leave no stone unturned.
Medical experts are unable to say how aware of his surroundings Alfie is, and say if he can feel a soothing hand he may also feel a the "pin prick" during his treatment.
Italian experts suggested operations including a tracheotomy and a gastronomy to help him breathe and feed for an undefined period of time.
Image:Tom Evans is fighting for life support treatment to continue
But an expert in the ventilation of children, believed such operations were "inappropriate".
He said: "I think we are all agreed from the medical perspective that life expectancy is limited.
"Because of that, I would feel it would be more appropriate to allow nature to take its course.
"That view is also supported by the fact that I don't think anyone can be certain exactly what Alfie is feeling and whether or not he maybe feeling pain or discomfort.
More from Liverpool
The hearing will continue on Friday.
https://news.sky.com/story/alfie-evans-further-treatment-for-seriously-ill-baby-inhumane-11232372
Alfie Evans: Further treatment for seriously ill baby 'inhumane'
Tom Evans, 20, is fighting for doctors to continue treating his son, who is on life support at Liverpool's Alder Hey hospital.
19:32, UK,Thursday 01 February 2018
Image:Alfie was born in May 2016 and has suffered from an unknown condition
Alfie Evans was born in May 2016 with a degenerative neurological condition which doctors have not been able to definitively diagnose.
His parents, Tom Evans and Kate James, want him to have continued treatment, but doctors argue it would be "futile".
In the High Court in Liverpool today, the hearing had to be adjourned for 20 minutes for Mr Evans' parents and sisters to comfort him, as he wept while he heard evidence that life support should be turned off.
Image:Tom Evans and his mother outside court in Liverpool
The parents of the 20-month-old believe he responds to them, but medics have said he is suffering spontaneous seizures as a result of being touched.
Michael Mylonas QC, representing the hospital, said: "One of the problems of this case is they look at him and, barring the paraphernalia of breathing and feeding, he's a sweet, lovely, normal-looking boy who opens his eyes, will smile..."
Mr Evans, 20, broke down when he heard this evidence, and a break was called in proceedings.
Mr Mylonas later continued by saying Alfie had suffered "catastrophic degradation of his brain tissue" and could only breathe with intervention.
He regularly has fits, triggered by touching.
Image:Supporters waved banners outside the court before the hearing
At the request of Mr Evans and Ms James, three medical experts from the Vatican-linked Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital in Rome had visited but they had reached the same conclusions of "complete futility" of treating the baby.
Mr Justice Anthony Hayden, hearing the case, said he'd had the "privilege" of meeting Alfie, and added no one could blame the parents for trying to leave no stone unturned.
Medical experts are unable to say how aware of his surroundings Alfie is, and say if he can feel a soothing hand he may also feel a the "pin prick" during his treatment.
Italian experts suggested operations including a tracheotomy and a gastronomy to help him breathe and feed for an undefined period of time.
Image:Tom Evans is fighting for life support treatment to continue
But an expert in the ventilation of children, believed such operations were "inappropriate".
He said: "I think we are all agreed from the medical perspective that life expectancy is limited.
"Because of that, I would feel it would be more appropriate to allow nature to take its course.
"That view is also supported by the fact that I don't think anyone can be certain exactly what Alfie is feeling and whether or not he maybe feeling pain or discomfort.
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The hearing will continue on Friday.
