Judge asks doctors if ‘other options’ exist for Alfie Evans’ family

● Court hearing adjourned to consider if he can be taken home

said: “If there were a more constructive attitude from the family might other options become possible, away from Alder Hey?

“I’m not suggesting this, I don’t want it to be taken as an indication from me.

“One of the things Tom Evans said, if it can’t be Italy or Munich, which it cannot be, was whether they could take Alfie home.”

At that point the court adjourned for an Alder Hey consultant in the courtroom to consider the matter.

Earlier yesterday Mr Evans claimed medics had been “gobsmacked” as his son continued to breathe for himself after medical intervention was withdrawn at 9:17pm on Monday night.

But Mr Justice Hayden cut down Paul Diamond, representing the parents, as he began the family’s appeal hearing.

Mr Diamond said: “This really is an appeal, in our submission for common humanity and common sense…”

The judge interjected: “I don’t think it’s helpful to use emotive terms. As a barrister, confine yourself to the law.”

Mr Diamond gave a witness statement from Mr Evans, taken yesterday, to the court suggesting his son’s condition is “significantly better” than had been previously believed.

Mr Diamond said the child had been breathing unaided for 19 hours.

He continued: “We do have a human being…”

Again the judge cut across him:“idon’tneedtobereminded we have a human being. You do not have the moral high ground in this court. It is treacherous terrain.”

Alder Hey doctors and independent medical experts have said there is no cure and no hope for Alfie.

Medics say he has a degenerative neurological condition destroying his brain, and it is in his best interests to withdraw life support, but his parents want to take him abroad for treatment.

All legal avenues appeared to have been exhausted for the family until a further hearing by Mr Justice Hayden was announced earlier yesterday at the Family Division of the High Court in Manchester.

Alfie was taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in December 2016 after suffering seizures. The hearing continues.

0 Alfie Evan’s parents had hoped to take their son to Italy