At the request of Indi Gregory's family, the Italian consul in Manchester, Dr Matteo Corradini, in his capacity as guardianship judge for the 8-month-old, has today issued an emergency measure recognising the authority of the Italian courts in this case.
The measure issued assumes protection of Indi, and authorises the immediate transfer of Indi to the Bambino Gesù Paediatric Hospital in Rome, which has offered the family specialist treatment at no cost to the NHS or UK taxpayer.
The measure also authorises the adoption of the Italian hospital's specialist treatment plan and appointed its general manager, Dr Antonio Perno, as Indi's guardian.
The Italian consul in Manchester has power under Italian law to operate as a judge and can issue emergency measures.
The Court Order has been communicated by the new guardian to the managing director of the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham to facilitate constructive collaboration between the Italian and English health authorities in order to avoid legal questions over conflict of jurisdiction.
It is believed to be the first time that such a measure has been issued in an end-of-life case in the UK.
Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said:
“What good reason can there be to detain Indi here against the wishes of her parents when treatment is being offered in Rome.
"The developments lay bare the difference in approach between two nations when the Italian Prime Minister has been public in her support of Indi Gregory and the right of her parents to access treatment in Rome and the British Prime Minister has remained silent.
“We are concerned that there has been no word from the British authorities since Indi was granted Italian citizenship and offered specialist treatment in Rome at no cost to the NHS or UK taxpayer. We ask for an urgent intervention to enable the right things to be done in this case."
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