Indi Gregory's parents lose battle to keep 7-month-old who suffers from same disease as Charlie Gard on life support | The Sun

A HEARTBROKEN family have lost a High Court battle to keep their baby with the same condition as Charlie Gard on life support.

Seven-month-old Indi Gregory has mitochondrial disease, an incurable condition which drains energy from the body's cells.

The youngster also has a hole in her heart and had operations on her bowel and skull soon after she was born in February.

Indi's parents Dean Gregory and Claire Staniforth battled to have her life-support treatment continue while at Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham.

They argued their daughter had "proved everyone wrong" and "needed more time".

But hospital bosses begged the High Court to rule they could lawfully limit treatment as keeping the "dying" baby on a ventilator would "prolong matters".

Mr Justice Peel ruled today with a "heavy heart" that medics could withdraw "invasive treatment".

In his judgment, he said the devotion Indi's family was "palpable" and their pain "almost unimaginable".

But the judge concluded the medical evidence was "unanimous and clear".

Speaking after the ruling, Dean vowed to continue fighting and confirmed he would be appealing the decision.

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He said: "During her short life Indi has proved everybody wrong and deserves more time and care from the NHS rather than seeking to end her life as soon as possible.

"It is criminal that parents who are trying to do everything for their child in such difficult circumstances are taken to court and have to contend with the weight of the whole system coming against them.

"Indi can definitely experience happiness. She cries like a normal baby. We know she is disabled, but you don’t just let disabled people die. We just want to give her a chance.

"I and we as a family are prepared to do whatever it takes to fight for the life of our beautiful daughter, Indi."

Indi suffers from the same condition as Charlie Gard, who died in 2017 after his parents lost a court battle to prolong his treatment.

The case has been held behind closed doors but journalists have been able to attend.

Dean previously told how his daughter was a "real fighter" who deserved a chance at life.

He added: "Look, if we thought Indi was brain-dead we would be utterly crushed, but we wouldn't be disagreeing with the doctors.

"But our daughter responds to us, and on her good days she is babbling, making noises, moving all her limbs. She can definitely experience happiness."

But Emma Sutton KC, for Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's legal team, told the judge Indi was critically ill.

She said the treatment Indi received caused pain and was futile.

Ms Sutton added: "Indi is dying.

"We cannot get away from that fact as sensitive as it may be. All realistic options have been exhausted."

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She said nurses were "watching Indi suffer", adding: "This has been looked at nationally, it has been looked at internationally.

"Sadly, the conclusions are that nothing further can be done."

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