A critically ill eight-month-old baby has been granted Italian citizenship and can be moved to a hospital in Rome to receive life-support treatment, despite the High Court ruling against the move.
Indi Gregory was born in February with mitochondrial disease – an incurable genetic condition that saps energy.
Specialists have said that Indi is dying and that it is not in her best interests to continue life-support measures.
Last Thursday, a High Court judge refused to allow Indi’s parents to transfer her to the Bambino Gesu Paediatric Hospital in Rome to receive treatment.
Mr Justice Peel had earlier ruled that doctors at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, where Indi had been receiving medical support, could lawfully limit treatment.
Indi’s parents, Dean Gregory and Claire Staniforth, failed to persuade Court of Appeal judges in London, and judges at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg, France, to overturn that decision.
However, the Italian Council of Ministers on Monday confirmed they had agreed to grant the infant Italian citizenship.
“My heart fills up with joy that the Italians have given Claire and I hope and faith back in humanity. The Italians have shown us care and loving support and I wish the UK authorities were the same,” Mr Gregory said.
“I’m very proud to say Indi has Italian citizenship and I thank the Italian government and the Italian people from the bottom of my heart.”
Simone Pillon, an Italian lawyer representing the family, said on X: “A huge thank you to the Italian government, to the president Giorgia Meloni, to all the ministers and to the entire Italian people on behalf of the family members of Indi Gregory.
“Now working to remove the remaining obstacles and bring her to Rome soon.”
The legal stay preventing Queen’s Medical Centre from making arrangements to extubate the infant expired at 2pm on Monday. Doctors had argued that the treatment Indi receives causes pain and is futile.
The Christian Legal Centre, who are representing the parents, have said that the Italian Government has offered to cover the costs of treatment at the Bambino Gesu.
“Even if the transfer to Italy involves some risk, the only alternative we have been offered in the UK is to go along with Indi’s death. There is nothing to lose for us or for Indi,” Mr Gregory said in a statement released through the CLC.
“The offer from Italy is the only offer of treatment that we have, and, as Indi’s parents, we are prepared to take a risk to make that happen.
“Given that the medical evidence suggests she has a reasonable chance to survive and to improve, we believe it is in her best interests to be given that chance.”
