A seriously ill baby dies after being taken off life support in a legal battle

Illustrative image,

Endy Gregory had a mitochondrial disorder, which prevents the body's cells from producing energy

author, Will Gifford
scroll, BBC News
November 13, 2023

A seriously ill baby at the center of a legal battle in the UK has died after being taken off life support.

Staff at Queen's Medical Center (QMC), located in Nottingham, England, said there was nothing they could do for Andy Gregory, who was suffering from a mitochondrial disorder.

The disease is characterized by a failure in the functioning of mitochondria, the vital structure in cells responsible for generating energy.

Indi's father, Dean Gregory, said the eight-month-old girl died at 1:45am local time on Monday (11/13) after being transferred to a palliative care unit.

He said the mother, Claire Staniforth, “cradled the girl as she took her last breath.”

Indy was transferred to the site after the court ruled on Friday (11/10) that the life support machine – which kept the girl alive – could not be removed from the house where she was living.

Christian Concern, which is supporting the family, said that Indy was transferred to the palliative care unit on Saturday (11/11) with the help of an ambulance and a security detail.

The group also reported that they were calm and fell asleep during the flight.

She was removed from life support in the palliative care unit and was placed on invasive ventilation.

Gregory said he knew Indy “was special from the day she was born.”

dew — Illustrative image,

Indi was receiving care at Queen's Medical Center in Nottingham

Legal battle

In recent months, Indy's parents, who also live in Ilkeston, UK, have begun a series of legal proceedings in a bid to prolong their daughter's life.

Indy was a carrier of mitochondrial disease, which prevents the body's cells from producing energy. The British Health System (NHS) states that the disease is incurable.

With support from the Christian Legal Centre, an organization linked to Christian Concern, the family tried to persuade the High Court and Court of Appeal, both in the UK, and judges from the European Court of Human Rights that they should continue to receive care.

Experts said Indy was dying and the treatment she received caused her pain and was unnecessary, but her parents disagreed with the assessment.

The couple also tried to transfer Indy to a hospital in Rome, Italy, but the idea did not work.