Judge in Alfie Evans case requests new hospital scan before "life-and- death decision"
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Seriously ill toddler Alfie Evans will face a new hospital scan before a ruling is made on whether to switch his life support off.
Mr Justice Hayden formally asked Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool for a new MRI scan this afternoon before he faced making what he described as a "life-and-death decision".
Tom Evans, 21, and Kate James, 20, have been fighting the children's hospital for months over the fate of their 20-month-old son who they want to take abroad to be re-assessed.
Alfie is in a "semi-vegetative state" and has a brain condition which doctors have not been able to diagnose and do not expect him to recover from.
The Alder Hey NHS Trust has argued that continuing life support is not in Alfie's best interests and say continuing to treat him is “unkind and inhumane”.
(Image: PA)
(Image: PA)
(Image: Tom Evans/Kate James)
A decision at Liverpool Civil and Family Court will happen after the new scan takes place.
Yesterday, Mr Evans' broke down in tears as the court was told that further hospital treatment is "futile" as his child had suffered “catastrophic” brain damage.
Medic say that the child, born on May 9 2016, is in a "semi-vegetative state" and has a degenerative neurological condition doctors have not definitively diagnosed.
(Image: Liverpool Echo)
(Image: PA)
Alfie's parents believe their son responds to them - but the court heard that any movements by the child are spontaneous seizures as a result of touching.
Speaking today, Mr Justice Hayden said: "I’m going to request there is an MRI. I’ve decided it’s necessary to be able to make this enormous decision.”
Mr Michael Mylonas QC, who is representing Alder Hey, responded: “We will endeavour to have that done as soon as possible.”
The judge continued to speak of the gravity of the decision he is faced with making.
“I’m making a life-and-death decision.
“So is it unreasonable to want all the information you can possibly have when being asked to make that kind of decision?” he added.
(Image: Liverpool Echo)
(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Earlier, Mr Evans has said he was "scared" of a potential scan because of what happeend during Alfie's last one in August.
However, he accepted the judge's reasons for not wanting a scan.
He said: “We were sat down and were told Alfie was coming to the end of his life. I was told Alfie had nearly gone.
“The only reason I’m scared is because of what the doctors said to us. They don’t give him the benefit of the doubt.
“I can’t face the conversation with the doctors. It’s heartbreaking to listen to the same things, but it’s key for Alfie’s sake we get an MRI.”
(Image: Liverpool Echo)
(Image: Liverpool Echo)
The exchange took place after a doctor told the judge there is "no hope" for the seriously ill child.
The consultant, who has treated Alfie at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, told the High Court hearing the child was unresponsive, not conscious of his surroundings and could not be cured.
The consultant giving evidence during the second day of the hearing on Friday told the court: "When we see disease like this, this is one of the reasons people don't want to become paediatric neurologists because they are awful and it is not a word I choose lightly.
"There's no cure and no hope for a cure.
"This is one of the most difficult of all things, most difficult things for parents but also for professionals."
Michael Mylonas QC, representing Alder Hey, asked the witness about the medical team's conclusion that further life support should be stopped.
He said: "It is very easy to understand why the family are upset. They see that as withdrawing life for a child which will result in his death earlier than if ventilation continues?"
The medic responded: "Only if I'm convinced, and this is as close to 100% as I possibly can, to accept that there's no hope, so for me this and the concept of no hope of improvement or treatment is a line which I don't step over or don't come to very lightly.
"It is a big step for me to recognise and accept that there's no hope for recovery and there's no hope for a meaningful life with a reasonable quality.
(Image: PA)
"Then the next step is, 'Is this wrong?' We have to consider the best interests of the child before you consider anything else. In the first instance our duty is to consider the best interests of the child."
Mr Justice Anthony Hayden, hearing the case, asked the witness of his assessment of Alfie's level of consciousness.
He replied: "I don't think Alfie is aware. I don't think he's conscious."
Earlier the hearing was told it was understandable that Alfie's family could not be blamed for "leaving no stone unturned" in trying to get him treatment.
But a "cohort" of world experts had come to the same conclusions that his disease was incurable.
The hearing continues.