Alfie Evans:an Emergency High Court Hearing Taking Place Now.

[ladybirder]

Parents have an aircraft standing by to take him to Italy. He's now been breathing on his own for almost 24 hours. This needs the judgement of Solomon.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5650177/Alfie-Evans-clinging-life-Adler-Hey-hospital-removes-life-support.html

[anneasquith]

The thuggish scenes outside the hospital are of no benefit to this child..

[naomi24]

In their defence they are people who think they're doing what's right. Don't be too harsh on them.

[naomi24]

I know.

[naomi24]

^That applies to both your posts.

[anneasquith]

" they think what they are doing is right"? What is " right" about them trying to gain entrance to a children's hospital which is being guarded by police ?

[andy-hughes]

To defend these outsiders because they think they are 'doing right' is deplorable.

Terrorists think they are 'doing right' - should we not be too hard on them either?

Believing something is right does not make it so.

[emmie]

awful case, can't see the little lad surviving for long, but i wish them all the very best in the world.

[naomi24]

anneasquith, //What is " right" about them trying to gain entrance to a children's hospital which is being guarded by police ?//

I think you have the wrong end of the stick. Those people are desperate to give the little boy a chance and in a situation like this emotions run high - but I don’t believe anyone here has said there’s anything right about the action they took. There isn’t.

andy-hughes, //To defend these outsiders because they think they are 'doing right' is deplorable.//

Your analogy to terrorists is pretty deplorable. See my reply to anneasquith.

//Believing something is right does not make it so.//

You might want to remember that in other discussions here…. but I doubt you will.

[woofgang]

sadly I suspect that at least a part of the mob outside the hospital are the "any excuse" crowd. I really think that the NHS as a whole needs to look at how it deals with these high profile and contentious cases. They are few and far between but the trouble they cause seems to be cumulative. If it was me I would consider setting up a national specialist family liaison squad to intervene and negotiate between family and hospital before things get to such a pitch.

[douglas9401]

They have to occupy themselves with something until the next football team bus comes to town.

[anotheoldgit]

We have read of several trips to the high court, Italy offering them citizenship and a plane waiting on the runway.

Who is funding this poor couple in their fight to save their son?

[naomi24]

aog, www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/sarah-evans-791

[anotheoldgit]

Thank you naomi, after reading that and what both parents and little Alfie has gone through, every avenue should be explored so as to try and save him, and if that means a trip to Italy, then so be it.

[bednobs]

the problem in these cases is that we necessarily only get a one sided story - the hospital can't comment (as it should be). Such emotive language is used in the press, for what is essentially a disagreement in the plans for treatment for this child.
when docotrs and patients fundamentally disagree, it is the correct course of action to put it to a neutral third party - the courts.
People seem to forget that if the courts decision had been to agree with the parents, the doctors/meical team would have complied with the order too, just as they are doing now

[ladybirder]

True bednobs and the courts have had experts other than the Alderhey team look at the evidence and agree there is no hope for this child.
I don't think Italy is offering to save him. My understanding is they can only offer palliative care which he is already getting here?

[Bathsheba]

I agree with the comment that the child had been moved to appear to be a fit and well sleeping child.
This is inhumane.
Let him go.
~Baths~

[ladybirder]

In case anybody hasn't seen the latest the parents are appealing to the High Court against the decision not to take him to Italy. The Appeal will be heard by 3 judges this afternoon.