Saturday, April 28, 2018

Timeline: How parents fought to save Alfie



Timeline: How parents fought to save Alfie

The parents of seriously ill toddler Alfie Evans were embroiled in a long legal battle over his life support treatment.
Here is how events unfolded since his birth in 2016.

9 May 2016

Alfie is born in Liverpool to parents Tom Evans and Kate James, then 19 and 18 respectively.

14 December 2016

Alfie is admitted to Alder Hey Children's Hospital after suffering seizures and remains there for the next 12 months.

11 December 2017

Hospital bosses say they are "liaising directly" with Alfie's family after disagreements over his treatment.
His parents say the hospital has applied to the High Court to remove parental rights and withdraw ventilation.

19 December 2017

Mr Justice Hayden begins overseeing the case at a public hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London.
Alder Hey says continuing life-support treatment would not be in Alfie's best interests, but his parents disagree and say they want permission to fly him to Italy for treatment.
The judge says he will make a decision on what is best for Alfie.
Tom Evans and Kate James leave the High Court
Image:Tom Evans and Kate James took their case to the High Court

1 February 2018

Lawyers acting for the hospital tell a High Court hearing that further treatment for Alfie is unkind and inhumane.

2 February 2018

One of Alfie's doctors tells the judge there is "no hope" for the youngster, who is in a semi-vegetative state from a degenerative neurological condition that medics have not been able to definitively identify.

5 February 2018

Mr Evans tells the court Alfie looks him "in the eye" and wants his help.

20 February 2018

Mr Justice Hayden rules in favour of hospital bosses, saying he accepts medical evidence which shows further treatment was futile.

1 March 2018

Three Court of Appeal judges begin analysing the case after Alfie's parents mount a challenge to the High Court ruling.
The family ask for the appeal hearing to be adjourned for a few weeks so they can discuss the ruling with lawyers, but the judges refuse.

6 March 2018

Alfie Evans, who has been at the centre of a life-support battle
Image:Alfie had a degenerative neurological condition

8 March 2018

Alfie's parents ask for the case to be considered by Supreme Court justices.

20 March 2018

Supreme Court justices refuse to give the couple permission to mount another appeal.

28 March 2018

Judges at the European Court of Human Rights reject a bid from Alfie's parents for them to examine issues relating to the toddler's future, saying they find no appearance of any human rights violation.

4 April 2018

Pope Francis voices support for Alfie's parents, tweeting: "It is my sincere hope that everything necessary may be done in order to continue compassionately accompanying little Alfie Evans, and that the deep suffering of his parents may be heard."

11 April 2018

Mr Justice Hayden endorses an end-of-life care plan for Alfie drawn up by specialists.

12 April 2018

Protesters gather outside Alder Hey hospital as Alfie's father insists he has the right to take him home.
Protesters gathered outside Alder Hey, where Alfie has been treated
Image:Protesters outside Alder Hey, where Alfie was treated

16 April 2018

Alfie's parents argue he is being wrongly "detained" at Alder Hey and make a habeas corpus application, a legal manoeuvre which requires a court to examine the legality of a detention.
Judges at the Court of Appeal in London rule against them and again uphold the decisions of Mr Justice Hayden.
Merseyside Police launch an investigation into "instances of verbal abuse and acts of intimidation" among protesters outside the hospital.
Judges raise concerns about reports that ambulances and staff are unable to enter the hospital and that patients and their families had been frightened.
Alfie's parents apologise, saying they did not intend to "harm or cause conflict or upset".

17 April 2018

Mr Evans and Ms James ask Supreme Court justices to consider their case for a second time.

18 April 2018

Mr Evans flies to Rome and meets Pope Francis. He kisses the Pope's hand and begs the leader of the Catholic Church to save Alfie's life.
Thomas Evans with the Pope. Pic: Facebook
Image:Thomas Evans with the Pope. Pic: Facebook

20 April 2018

The Supreme Court rules against Alfie's parents for a second time, refusing them permission to appeal the decision.
The couple make an application to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg to take Alfie to Rome for treatment.

23 April 2018

The European Court of Human Rights refuses the application made by Alfie's parents, saying it is "inadmissible".
About 200 protesters gather outside Alder Hey, where Alfie has been receiving treatment, as police are forced to stop dozens of people charging at the doors.
Alfie is granted Italian citizenship in a bid to facilitate moving him to Italy to receive treatment.
A High Court Judge dismisses new submissions made in private by the lawyers for Alfie's parents via telephone.
Mr Evans says life support is withdrawn by doctors at Alder Hey and his son has been breathing for himself since 9.17pm.

24 April 2018

Mr Evans says doctors are "gobsmacked" that his son is breathing nine hours after his life support ended.
An emergency High Court hearing is called where Mr Justice Hayden calls Alfie a "warrior" but says the case has reached its "final chapter".
The judge rules that the family cannot take Alfie to Italy for treatment. He advises the boy's parents to "explore" other options, such as removing Alfie from intensive care either to a ward, a hospice or his home.

25 April 2018

Judges throw out Alfie's parent's appeals against the High Court ruling that the child could be taken home, but not abroad.
Lord Justice McFarlane says the case is "awful for everyone concerned" but believes there is no evidence a wrong judgement has been made.
The appeals court also hears Mr Evans sought to bring a private prosecution of conspiracy to murder against three doctors treating Alfie.

26 April 2018

Mr Evans releases a photo of his son three days after his ventilator was switched off, saying: "Alfie fights another day".
Alfie Evans
Image:'Still fighting'
He renews his plea for his son to be allowed to go home.
On Thursday evening, Mr Evans says the family will work with doctors to ensure their son has "the dignity and comfort he needs" and asks for privacy going forward.
Making a plea for privacy, Mr Evans said: "We are very grateful and we appreciate all the support we have received from around the world, including from our Italian and Polish supporters, who have dedicated their time and support to our incredible fight.
"We would now ask you to return back to your everyday lives and allow myself, Kate and Alder Hey to form a relationship, build and bridge and walk across it."

28 April 2018Alfie dies

Alfie's parents say they are "heartbroken" as they announce that the toddler died in the early hours of the morning.

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https://news.sky.com/story/timeline-the-fight-to-keep-alfie-evans-alive-11344694


Alfie Evans dies after parents lose legal fight for life support



Life support battle toddler Alfie Evans parents 'heartbroken' as he dies

Alder Hey doctors switched off life support for the terminally ill 23-month-old, who had a degenerative neurological condition.
Alfie Evans, who has been at the centre of a life-support battle
Image:Alfie Evans was at the centre of a life-support battle
Toddler Alfie Evans has died after his parents lost their legal fight to continue his life support.
Tom Evans and Kate James launched a series of legal challenges to continue treatment for their 23-month-old son, who had a degenerative neurological condition.
Mr Evans posted on Facebook: "My gladiator lay down his shield and gained his wings at 02:30 absolutely heartbroken. I LOVE YOU MY GUY"
Press Association said that his parents are "heartbroken".
The couple from Liverpool wanted to move their son from Alder Hey Children's Hospital to Italy where they say doctors were willing to treat the little boy.
Tom Evans and Kate James leave the High Court
Image:Tom Evans and Kate James took the case to the High Court
Alfie's life support machine was switched off on Monday night.
On Tuesday morning, Mr Evans said doctors were "gobsmacked" that his son was breathing nine hours after his life support ended.
This image was posted by Alfie's father Tom Evans on Monday
Image:Alfie was born in May 2016 and suffered from an unknown disorder
Speaking outside Alder Hey before his son's death, Mr Evans had said: "It's come to a point when his mum's actually asleep next to him so she can go to sleep, she feels comfortable with him."
Alfie had been granted Italian citizenship in a bid to secure his transfer to Rome and last week Mr Evans met Pope Francis, who expressed support for the family.
Thomas Evans with the Pope. Pic: Facebook
Image:Thomas Evans with the Pope. Pic: Facebook
The toddler was in a semi-vegetative state from a degenerative neurological condition that medics were not able to definitively identify.
On Friday, his parents said they would work with doctors to ensure their son had the "dignity and comfort he needs".
In February, Mr Justice Hayden ruled that doctors at Alder Hey could stop treating Alfie against the wishes of his parents.
The judge said he accepted medical evidence which showed that further treatment was futile.
Alfie was born in May 2016 and has suffered from an unknown disorder
Image:Alfie was given Italian citizenship in a bid to move him to Rome for treatment
Court of Appeal judges upheld his decision, while Supreme Court justices and European Court of Human Rights judges refused to intervene.
Mr Justice Hayden described Alfie as "courageous" and a "warrior" but ruled out the family's wishes to take him to the Bambino Gesu hospital in Rome.
The judge said the family could instead "explore" the options of removing him from intensive care either to a ward, a hospice or his home.
Hundreds of Alfie's supporters gathered outside Alder Hey on Monday and police were forced to block dozens of people who were trying tostorm the hospital building.
More follows...

https://news.sky.com/story/alfie-evans-dies-after-parents-lose-legal-fight-for-life-support-11344883


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https://news.sky.com/story/alfie-evans-dies-after-parents-lose-legal-fight-for-life-support-11344883



Alfie Evans dies after long-running legal battle



Alfie Evans dies after long-running legal battle

Alfie Evans suffered from a rare neurological disease
Alfie Evans suffered from a rare neurological disease CREDIT: PA
Alfie Evans, the terminally ill boy at the heart of a long-running legal battle, died in the early hours of Saturday, his parents have said.
Tom Evans, the father of the 23-month-old child, announced the news on Facebook, saying he passed away at 2.30am.
"My gladiator lay down his shield and gained his wings at 02:30," he wrote. "I love you my guy."
Kate James, Alfie's mother, wrote: "Our baby boy grew his wings tonight at 2:30 am. We are heart broken. Thank you everyone for all your support."
Mr Evans had been fighting Alder Hey Children's Hospital in court to take the toddler to Rome for continued medical care.
The 21-year-old, whose son suffered from a rare neurological disease, lost a series of appeals against the decision by the hospital in Liverpool to withdraw life support for Evans.
Alfie had his ventilator removed late on Monday after his parents exhausted all legal avenues to stop a February court ruling permitting the move, but has continued breathing independently this week.
His parents suffered their latest court defeat on Wednesday, when three judges rejected taking the boy to Rome for treatment, despite high-profile interventions in the case from Pope Francis and the Italian government.
Alfie Evans: Father wants 'struggling' baby to be allowed home
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After weeks of ramping up support for his son to be allowed to travel abroad to receive treatment, Mr Evans had a change of heart on Thursday, making a dramatic u-turn asking supporters to 'return to their lives'.
Speaking outside the hospital in Liverpool he said the lives of his little family "had been turned upside down...and it has meant we have not been able to live our lives as we would like."
Striking a note of reconciliation with medical staff he asked Alfie's supporters to "allow myself, Kate and Alder Hey to form a relationship, build a bridge and walk across it."



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https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/28/alfie-evans-dies-long-running-legal-battle/