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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Alfie Evans: Sick toddler’s life support ‘can end’ | Alfie Evans: Sick toddler’s life support ‘can end’ |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Doctors can stop providing life support to toddler Alfie Evans who has a mystery illness against his parents' wishes, the High Court has ruled. | Doctors can stop providing life support to toddler Alfie Evans who has a mystery illness against his parents' wishes, the High Court has ruled. |
| Alder Hey Children's Hospital argued that continuing to treat the 21-month-old from Bootle, Merseyside was "unkind, unfair and inhumane". | Alder Hey Children's Hospital argued that continuing to treat the 21-month-old from Bootle, Merseyside was "unkind, unfair and inhumane". |
| His parents Tom Evans and Kate James had hoped to prolong Alfie's life with treatment at a hospital in Rome. | His parents Tom Evans and Kate James had hoped to prolong Alfie's life with treatment at a hospital in Rome. |
| Mr Justice Hayden said Alfie requires "peace, quiet and privacy". | Mr Justice Hayden said Alfie requires "peace, quiet and privacy". |
| The hospital is set to withdraw ventilation on Friday. | The hospital is set to withdraw ventilation on Friday. |
| His mother left the court hearing before the ruling while his father broke down as the decision was announced. | His mother left the court hearing before the ruling while his father broke down as the decision was announced. |
| About 30 supporters of the family's campaign had gathered outside Alder Hey as the decision about his treatment was delivered. | |
| The conclusion was made after a hearing at Liverpool Civil and Family Court earlier this month was told Alfie was in a "semi-vegetative state". | |
| He has a degenerative neurological condition doctors had not definitively diagnosed, the court heard. | He has a degenerative neurological condition doctors had not definitively diagnosed, the court heard. |
| Mr Justice Hayden said he accepted medical evidence which showed further treatment was futile, adding: "Alfie's need now is for good quality palliative care." | Mr Justice Hayden said he accepted medical evidence which showed further treatment was futile, adding: "Alfie's need now is for good quality palliative care." |
| Delivering the ruling in the High Court in London, he said he had reached his conclusion with great sadness. | Delivering the ruling in the High Court in London, he said he had reached his conclusion with great sadness. |
| He paid tribute to Alfie's parents and the staff at Alder Hey. | He paid tribute to Alfie's parents and the staff at Alder Hey. |
| After the decision, Mr Evans said: "I need time to reflect on the judgement" while supporters of Alfie's campaign stood in silence wiping away tears and hugging each other. | |
| The family is considering whether to appeal. | |
| In a statement, Alder Hey Children's Hospital said it will continue to work with Alfie's family to agree the "most appropriate" palliative care plan for him during a "very difficult time". | |
| It said it always aims to reach an agreement with parents about care plans. | |
| "Unfortunately there are sometimes rare situations such as this where agreement cannot be reached and the treating team believe that continued active treatment is not in a child's best interests." | |
| The hospital had referred the case to the High Court to determine what treatment would be in Alfie's best interests. |