Rare Disease Baby Abandoned by UK... "We Will Treat" Italy Grants Citizenship and Brings Baby Over

Prime Minister Meloni "Will Do Everything Possible"
Similar Case 5 Years Ago: UK Refused Transfer and Stopped Treatment

The Italian government has decided to grant citizenship and bring to Italy a British baby with a rare disease who is facing the threat of life-sustaining treatment being stopped. The treatment will continue in Italy, with the Italian government covering all costs.

UK Decides to "Stop Life-Sustaining Treatment," Italy Responds by Granting Citizenship and Covering Full Treatment Costs

Indi Gregory, an 8-month-old British baby suffering from a rare disease. [Image source=Captured from Italian daily La Repubblica on X]

On the 6th (local time), according to Italian daily Corriere della Sera and other local media, the Italian government held an emergency cabinet meeting and approved the issuance of Italian citizenship to 8-month-old British baby girl Indi Gregory so she could be transferred to Italy for treatment.

Born in February this year, Gregory suffers from mitochondrial disease. This is a condition where the body's cells cannot produce energy, and the UK's National Health Service classifies this disease as incurable.

Gregory has been hospitalized at Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham, UK, receiving intensive care since birth.

The hospital recommended stopping life-sustaining treatment, stating that further treatment would only cause the baby pain. However, Gregory's parents wished to continue treatment.

The dispute eventually moved to court, and the UK court sided with the hospital, ruling that there was no possibility of recovery for the baby.

When the Bambino Ges? Hospital, a children's hospital run by the Vatican in Rome, offered to assist with treatment, Gregory's parents wanted to transfer her there. However, last week the UK Court of Appeal denied the transfer, judging that stopping life-sustaining treatment was in the baby's best interest.

After the UK Court of Appeal ruled at 3 p.m. that day to stop life-sustaining treatment, the Italian government acted swiftly to prevent this.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni convened an emergency cabinet meeting at 2:15 p.m. that day. Within minutes, Gregory was granted Italian citizenship.

Prime Minister Meloni stated on X (formerly Twitter), "They say there is little hope for little Indi, but we will do everything we can to protect the baby's life until the end," adding, "And we will defend the rights of the parents who want to do everything possible for their child."

Meloni also added that the government would cover all treatment costs for the baby.

Dean Gregory, the father, said, "I am proud that my daughter is Italian," and expressed sincere gratitude to the Italian government and people for showing hope and trust in humanity.

The UK High Court announced that it plans to hold a private online hearing regarding this case on the 7th.

Similar Case Five Years Ago... "UK Denied Transfer, Rare Disease Baby Ultimately Passed Away"

A British bus covered with banners and balloons supporting the life-sustaining treatment of Alfie Evans, a British baby suffering from an incurable disease in 2018. [Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

This case is similar to the 2018 global controversy involving 23-month-old British boy Alfie Evans, over whether life-sustaining treatment should continue.

At that time, when Bambino Ges? Hospital expressed willingness to support life-sustaining treatment, the Italian government granted Evans citizenship and prepared a military plane for his transfer.

However, the UK Court of Appeal ruled that judicial jurisdiction over Evans lay in the UK and denied the transfer. Evans' life support was eventually withdrawn, and he died five days later.

Foreign media have reported that, as with Alfie Evans five years ago, it remains uncertain whether Gregory will actually receive treatment in Italy.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.