by A campaign group supporting the parents of a critically ill baby says an attempt to take a life-support treatment case to a European court has failed.
Dean Gregory and Claire Staniforth had lost legal battles in London and wanted judges at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg, France, to hear their daughter Edie Gregory's case.
The couple is supported by the Christian Legal Center – and a spokesman for the center said on Thursday that the ECtHR had “rejected” an application.
A High Court judge recently ruled that doctors could legally limit the treatment they give eight-month-old Indi and her parents, who are both in their 30s and from Ilkeston, Derbyshire, have failed to persuade the appeals courts to overturn this decision.
The Christian Legal Center said Edi's parents initially wanted a European judge to “ban” the withdrawal of “life-sustaining treatment” until the ECtHR considered the case.
However, a spokesman said the ECtHR “rejected the application”.
Indi's parents said they were praying that the ECtHR would look into the case.
Mr Justice Peel had ruled that doctors could limit the treatment after considering the evidence in a recent private trial in the Family Division of the High Court.
He heard Indi, who was born on February 24, 2023, had mitochondrial disease, a genetic condition that depletes energy, and was being treated at Queen's Medical Center in Nottingham.
Experts say she is dying and bosses at the hospital's management trust have asked Mr Justice Peel to rule that doctors could legally limit her treatment.
Barrister Emma Sutton KC, who led the legal team for Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, told Mr Justice Peel that Indi was seriously ill and had an extremely rare and devastating neurometabolic disorder.
He said the treatment Indi received caused pain and was futile.
Mr Justice Peel had considered evidence in camera but allowed journalists to attend the hearing and ruled that Indi, her parents and the hospital could be named in the reports.
It ruled that the doctors treating Indi and a guardian appointed to represent her interests could not be named.
Mr Gregory said in a statement issued through the Christian Legal Centre: “As a father and parent, I was willing to do everything I could to save my daughter's life from inhumane decisions and people trying to play god.
“I am heartbroken by the decision, but I am no longer surprised.
“I think it comes down to cost and resources, and in the eyes of the NHS and the courts in this country and Europe, Indi is not worth it.
“She is everything to us and we will do everything we can to help until the end as it is our duty as parents to protect her.”
