Judge praises parents of sick baby girl who let him rule that their daughter should be allowed to die

A judge has praised the parents of a sick baby who let him rule that their daughter should be allowed to die, as he said that knowing when to let child go shows "healthy parental instinct".

The parents of an 11-month-old girl, who has been in hospital her whole life with a progressive brain injury and a very severe lung disease, said they could not make the decision to let her die and wanted a judge to take that responsibility.

Neither the baby girl or her parents have been named.

Mr Justice Hayden, who presided over the controversial legal challenge by the parents of Alfie Evans earlier this year, yesterday ruled that the 11-month-old girl should be allowed to die peacefully and that doctors could stop providing her "futile" life-support treatment.

Speaking in the Family Division of the High Court in London, he said her injuries would not improve and evidence showed that she was suffering.

Doctors at the Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust, who have responsibility for the little girl's care, had asked him to rule that she could be allowed to die.

The little girl’s mother told Mr Justice Hayden: "I have spent 11 months with my daughter - she is very attached to me.

"I don't want to let her go."

But she added: "I will respect your decision."

Mr Justice Hayden praised the couple's devotion.

He said: "I have no doubt that the parents' decision is not only correct but a healthy parental instinct. Knowing when to let go of a child is part of the responsibility of being a parent.

"Sadly, it was never possible for her to leave hospital but her parents have been there every day.

"They have worked with the hospital through one medical challenge after another.

"The primary objective now is that she should die peacefully and with dignity in her parents' arms.”

In February this year at a hearing at the Liverpool Civil and Family Court, Mr Justice Hayden accepted medical evidence showing further treatment for Alfie Evans was "futile" and gave doctors permission to provide palliative care only for Alfie.

The hospital was set to withdraw ventilation on 23 February before his parents challenged the decision.