Doctors group condemns 'tyrannical' treatment of Alphie Evans + UPDATE

Apr 25th, 2018

Source: MEA

The Medical Ethics Alliance yesterday issued the following statement protesting at the treatment of Alfie Evans and his parents.

We are deeply concerned and outraged by the treatment and care offered to Alfie Evans. Wanting to withdraw treatment so that he will die, the medical authorities have taken Alfie to the High Court. At that point, and as a result of the hospital's court action, the parents were stripped of their right to be decision makers for their beloved child. They could only advise the Court and look on as the High Court made decisions for Alfie.

The High Court decided that it was in the "Best Interests" of Alfie to die and duly authorized the withdrawal of treatment. As a result the parents are being tortured as they watch the hospital take actions expected to lead to his death.

Despite a viable alternative being available (namely transfer by air ambulance for further assessment to a specialist hospital in Rome), the hospital and doctors responsible for his care insists that he remains under their care and on a pathway towards death. While he now has some oxygen and some fluid this has taken huge effort to obtain for him. He is offered sedation although (we understand) this has not been given at present. Sedation (if given) would mean that he would develop respiratory failure and die even more quickly.

Actions such as these have now brought the Alder Hey Hospital to worldwide attention and by extension bring our whole profession into disrepute.

Medical tyranny must stop. Poor Alfie must not be killed in this way. We demand that the authorities to allow Alfie safe passage to Rome.

With respect we insist that with immediate effect the GMC investigate the actions of doctors providing his care. Surely the doctors should refuse to implement such a tyrannical decision and allow Alfie to go to Rome.

Dr Anthony Cole. Medical Ethics Alliance
Dr Thomas Ward
Dr Adrian Treloar MV BS FRCP MRCPsych MRCGP
Dr Robert Hardie
Dr Josephne Venn-Treloar MB BS
Philippe Schepens MD
Member of the Pontifical Academy for Life(PAV) (1995-2017)
Member of the board of the PAV (1995-2004)
Member of the board of the John-Paul II Academy of Life and Family
Member of the board of the American Life League (honorary)
Secretary-General of the World Federation of Doctors who respect Human Life
Theresa Mandeville RN, MSN, CMSRN
Carlos A. Casanova, PhD
Deacon William V. Williams, M.D.
Editor in Chief Emeritus
The Linacre Quarterly
Dr. Adrian Quinn, Psy. D.
Dr Maria Isabella Sereni
Sara Brugnoli MD
Erica Damler
W W Bendi
Belinda Bright
Elizabeth Heare
Lisa Power
Pauline Woodcock
Francesca Sorrentino
Annamaria Zardini
Enrico Finetti
Sara McGreevy
Margaret Czyz
Laura Huffman
Michelle
Laura Bolster
Anna Robinson
Anna Maria Napoli
Doyen Nguyen
Angela Southwood
Noli A. Mababangloob
Jonathan Sharman, Clinical Audit Coordinator
Kareena Leaker
Ana Brillon
Mrs Elizabeth Rhodes
Alex Hewitt
Helena Manuela Rodrigues Freitas
Ryan DellaCrosse
Nicole Murray (Paramedic)
Katie Abbott
Alan Yates.
Maureen Bennett
Iwona Ożarowska
Stacy Mooney
Natasha Barrett
Maria Love
Aga Anisimowic
B Cameron
Ciara O'Connor
Jackie Jones
Amy Rowles
Charlene S
Pietro Friscuolo
Mrs Evelyn Davie
Joseph Burnham, DC