In a tragic and emotionally charged legal battle, the parents of seven-month-old Indi Gregory have lost their fight to keep her on life support. Indi, born with a mitochondrial disease that drains energy from her body’s cells, has been receiving full life support at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham.
The case unfolded in the Family Division of the High Court, where Mr. Justice Peel heard evidence regarding Indi’s critical condition. Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust sought permission from the court to lawfully limit treatment, arguing that specialists deemed her condition terminal.
The heart-wrenching decision came on Friday when Mr. Justice Peel ruled that medics could lawfully withdraw invasive treatment. He expressed a “heavy heart” in his conclusion, stating, “the burdens of invasive treatment outweigh the benefits.” The judge emphasised the significant pain experienced by Indi, juxtaposed with incurable conditions and a very short life span.
The parents, Dean Gregory and Claire Staniforth, from Ilkeston, had pleaded for the life-support treatment to continue. However, the judge determined that withdrawing invasive treatment would serve Indi’s best interests.
Barrister Emma Sutton KC, leading the legal team for Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, described Indi’s condition as critically ill with an exceptionally rare and devastating neurometabolic disorder. She argued that the treatment was causing pain and was futile, stating, “Indi is dying, and all realistic options have been exhausted.”
Mr. Gregory passionately expressed his desire for more time for his daughter, insisting that she had “proved everyone wrong” and needed to endure a little pain for the chance at life. The judge’s decision comes as a heavy blow to the parents, who are supported by the campaign group, the Christian Legal Centre.
