TV doc: Alfie’s Army is 17th century lynch mob
Dr Ravi attacks some supporters of sick tot
A TV doctor has accused some supporters of seriously ill toddler Alfie Evans of being part of a “17th century witch-hunting lynch mob”.
And Dr Ravi Jayaram says abuse aimed at medics treating the youngster during hospital protests has been “terrifying”.
On Facebook, he wrote: “I’ve no sympathy for the mob jumping on the bandwagon and behaving like some kind of 17th century witch-hunting lynch mob.”
Alfie, who has a degenerative brain condition, is at Liverpool’s Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
Doctors say the illness is terminal and the High Court has given them permission to end his life support. But Alfie’s parents Tom Evans, 21, and Kate James, 20, from Liverpool, are fighting the decision.
Consultant paediatrician Dr Jayaram, who has appeared on ITV’s This Morning and the BBC’s The One Show, added: “My sympathies lie with Alfie and his family.
“No parent would ever want to be in a situation where they have to admit that there is no hope of improvement.” But he blasted some supporters suspected of verbal abuse and intimidation. He said: “Do they genuinely think children’s doctors and nurses are deliberately lying and going out of their way to do harm?”
Earlier this week, Tom called for the hospital demonstrations to stop. He and his wife want to take Alfie for treatment to Italy and asked the Pope for support.
After his return from the Vatican yesterday, Mr Evans said Pope Francis had looked him in the eye and told him he was “doing the right thing”.
He said: “The Pope actually stated I was right and to let God decide. Not Alder Hey, not the doctors here, not any parents either. He praised how much courage Alfie has got. He’s got the strength of God and I’m only doing it for Alfie, to protect Alfie’s safety.”
But this week UK Catholic leaders backed the medical teams at Alder Hey.
Do they genuinely think doctors want to do harm DR RAVI JAYARAM WRITING ON FACEBOOK