In a recent ruling, a High Court judge has permitted doctors to limit the life-support treatment provided to Indi Gregory, a critically ill baby from Derbyshire, against the wishes of her parents. Dean Gregory and Claire Staniforth, hailing from Ilkeston, had challenged the ruling of Mr Justice Peel earlier this month. However, their appeal was dismissed by two Court of Appeal judges, Lady Justice King and Lord Justice Birss, following a hearing in London on Monday.

Indi Gregory’s parents argued that the inquiry conducted by Mr Justice Peel regarding their daughter’s condition had been inadequate. They also claimed that the High Court trial had been procedurally unfair and criticised Mr Justice Peel for denying them an effective opportunity to obtain expert medical evidence.

During the private trial in the Family Division of the High Court in London, Mr Justice Peel heard evidence about Indi’s condition. The eight-month-old baby, who was born on February 24, 2023, suffers from mitochondrial disease, a rare genetic condition that depletes energy. She is currently receiving treatment at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham.

Medical specialists have expressed that Indi’s condition is critical and that the treatment she is receiving is both painful and futile. The governing trust of the hospital requested Mr Justice Peel to rule on the lawfulness of limiting the treatment provided to Indi.

Barrister Emma Sutton KC, leading the legal team of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, argued that Indi’s parents’ appeal should be dismissed due to the severity of her condition and the futility of the treatment she is undergoing.

The Court of Appeal judges, Lady Justice King and Lord Justice Birss, determined that Indi’s parents did not present a valid case for an appeal, stating that there was no realistic prospect of them winning. This ruling has brought the legal battle to a close, leaving Indi’s parents with limited options moving forward.

This case has sparked a heated debate surrounding the rights of parents and the authority of medical professionals in determining the treatment of critically ill children. The decision of the Court of Appeal judges has significant implications not only for Indi Gregory’s family but also for other families facing similar circumstances.

While this legal battle may have reached its conclusion, the emotional and ethical dilemmas faced by parents in situations like this continue to raise important questions about the delicate balance between medical expertise and parental rights.