Publisher Health

The parents of a critically ill seven-month-old baby girl are preparing for an appeal after a judge ruled doctors could withdraw life support.

Indi Gregory has mitochondrial disease and medics at Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre have said they can do no more for her.

A High Court judge has ruled Indi’s treatment can be lawfully limited.

Her parents Dean Gregory and Claire Staniforth, from Ilkeston, Derbyshire, will appeal against the ruling.

A Court of Appeal hearing is due to be held in London on Monday, according to campaign group Christian Legal Centre, which has been supporting Indi’s parents.

Mitochondrial disease prevents cells in the body producing energy and the NHS says there is no cure for the disease.

Specialists have said Indi is dying and bosses at the hospital’s governing trust asked Mr Justice Peel to rule that doctors could lawfully limit treatment provided to her.

Barrister Emma Sutton KC, who led Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s legal team, said at the Royal Courts of Justice that Indi had an exceptionally rare and devastating neurometabolic disorder.

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

Indi’s father Mr Gregory had told Mr Justice Peel his daughter had “proved everyone wrong” and needed “more time”.

The judge considered evidence behind closed doors but allowed journalists to attend the hearing and ruled that Indi, her parents and the hospital can be named in reports.

He ruled medics treating Indi, and a guardian appointed to represent her interests, could not be named.

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