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| Alfie Evans: Continuing life support 'futile' | Alfie Evans: Continuing life support 'futile' |
| (1 day later) | |
| The father of a seriously ill 20-month-old boy broke down in tears as a court was told further hospital treatment would be "futile". | The father of a seriously ill 20-month-old boy broke down in tears as a court was told further hospital treatment would be "futile". |
| Tom Evans and Kate James, both 20 and from Bootle, want to take their son Alfie abroad for treatment. | |
| The hearing to decide if life support should be withdrawn from Alfie, who has a mystery illness, was stopped briefly while Mr Evans was comforted by family. | The hearing to decide if life support should be withdrawn from Alfie, who has a mystery illness, was stopped briefly while Mr Evans was comforted by family. |
| UK doctors said continuing treatment was unkind, the court heard. | UK doctors said continuing treatment was unkind, the court heard. |
| Alfie is in a "semi-vegetative state" and has a degenerative neurological condition that has not been precisely diagnosed. | Alfie is in a "semi-vegetative state" and has a degenerative neurological condition that has not been precisely diagnosed. |
| 'Catastrophic brain degradation' | 'Catastrophic brain degradation' |
| Mr Justice Hayden, who told the court he himself had had the "privilege" of visiting Alfie in hospital, said: "Everybody in this court shares the same objectives, everybody wants the best for Alfie." | Mr Justice Hayden, who told the court he himself had had the "privilege" of visiting Alfie in hospital, said: "Everybody in this court shares the same objectives, everybody wants the best for Alfie." |
| Alfie's parents believe he responds to them, and his father told reporters outside court he was "improving healthwise". | Alfie's parents believe he responds to them, and his father told reporters outside court he was "improving healthwise". |
| But the High Court, sitting in Liverpool, heard any movements by the child are spontaneous seizures as a result of touching. | But the High Court, sitting in Liverpool, heard any movements by the child are spontaneous seizures as a result of touching. |
| 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, [and] will smile..." | 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, [and] will smile..." |
| Mr Mylonas said scans of Alfie had shown "catastrophic degradation of his brain tissue" which was getting worse. | Mr Mylonas said scans of Alfie had shown "catastrophic degradation of his brain tissue" which was getting worse. |
| He said that, at the request of the parents, three medical experts from the Vatican-linked Bambino Gesu Paediatric Hospital in Rome had visited Alfie in Alder Hey. | He said that, at the request of the parents, three medical experts from the Vatican-linked Bambino Gesu Paediatric Hospital in Rome had visited Alfie in Alder Hey. |
| They had reached the same conclusions in terms of the "complete futility" of trying to find a cure or alleviating his seizures. | They had reached the same conclusions in terms of the "complete futility" of trying to find a cure or alleviating his seizures. |
| The Italian experts had suggested operations to help Alfie breathe and feed and keep him alive for an "undefined period". | The Italian experts had suggested operations to help Alfie breathe and feed and keep him alive for an "undefined period". |
| But Dr Martin Samuels, an expert in the ventilation of children, believed such operations were "inappropriate". | But Dr Martin Samuels, an expert in the ventilation of children, believed such operations were "inappropriate". |
| "I think we are all agreed from the medical perspective that life expectancy is limited," he said. | "I think we are all agreed from the medical perspective that life expectancy is limited," he said. |
| Prof Helen Cross told the court that tests showed Alfie only displayed brain activity when he was having seizures. | Prof Helen Cross told the court that tests showed Alfie only displayed brain activity when he was having seizures. |
| She said Alfie's scans were "highly abnormal" with an estimated loss of 70% of his brain nerve fibre. | She said Alfie's scans were "highly abnormal" with an estimated loss of 70% of his brain nerve fibre. |
| This was not reversible, she said. | This was not reversible, she said. |
| "Prolonging his life unnecessarily is not a way to go considering his brain is being progressively destroyed and there is no prospect of recovery," she added. | "Prolonging his life unnecessarily is not a way to go considering his brain is being progressively destroyed and there is no prospect of recovery," she added. |
| Supporters wearing T-shirts saying "release Alfie Evans" are also at the two-day hearing. | Supporters wearing T-shirts saying "release Alfie Evans" are also at the two-day hearing. |
| Despite mediation between the parents and specialists caring for Alfie at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, the city's family court will decide the child's fate. | Despite mediation between the parents and specialists caring for Alfie at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, the city's family court will decide the child's fate. |
| It follows a preliminary hearing at the High Court in London last year when Mr Justice Hayden said everyone wanted what was best for Alfie, but ruled he would make a decision if agreement could not be reached after hearing from both sides. | It follows a preliminary hearing at the High Court in London last year when Mr Justice Hayden said everyone wanted what was best for Alfie, but ruled he would make a decision if agreement could not be reached after hearing from both sides. |
| Doctors at Alder Hey believe they should stop "mechanical ventilation" for Alfie, who was born in May 2016. | Doctors at Alder Hey believe they should stop "mechanical ventilation" for Alfie, who was born in May 2016. |
| The Bambino Gesu Hospital was also involved in the case of terminally-ill Charlie Gard, asking British doctors if he could be transferred to their care. | The Bambino Gesu Hospital was also involved in the case of terminally-ill Charlie Gard, asking British doctors if he could be transferred to their care. |
| It came after Pope Francis called for his parents to be allowed to "accompany and treat their child until the end". | It came after Pope Francis called for his parents to be allowed to "accompany and treat their child until the end". |
| Charlie had mitochondrial depletion syndrome, a rare genetic condition which causes progressive muscle weakness, and died in a hospice at 11-months-old. | Charlie had mitochondrial depletion syndrome, a rare genetic condition which causes progressive muscle weakness, and died in a hospice at 11-months-old. |
| The hearing will continue with more expert evidence on Friday. | The hearing will continue with more expert evidence on Friday. |