At the core of the dispute was the medical profession's view that, not only was Alfie's condition incurable, but that to move him abroad was likely to cause the little boy unnecessary suffering for no possible gain. The parents, on the other hand, maintained their own conviction that he could be helped. I'm sure that we can all understand their desperation.
Many people demanded that the hospital and the courts should 'do the right thing' and allow the parents to take him abroad, but the question the courts had to deal with was not what was best for the parents, but what was best for the little boy, even if that meant making a decision that was contrary to the parents' wishes. Children are not the property of their parents but are individual, though immature, human beings in their own right, which is why the final decision was not the parents to make.
The deliberations of the doctors and courts must have been heart-rending; any suggestion that these devoted parents were hitting a brick wall of medical and legal officialdom is wholly misplaced. Medical professionals are often deeply moved, upset or, on occasion, traumatised when patients die, and such emotional responses tend to increase the younger the patient is. I've no doubt that the courts found it difficult as well.
My sympathy for the parents was severely tested when we heard the news that their lawyers from the Christian Legal Centre were talking about taking out a private prosecution against three doctors for conspiracy to murder. According to the Liverpool Echo, this legal centre is a branch of Christian Concern, an anti-abortion organisation which says “divorce, homosexuality and transsexualism are the three most significant challenges to God’s pattern for family in today’s society.” They are a group that very much has an agenda of its own and were using this case to further it.
Then we have the phenomenon of Alfie's Army, a large, vociferous group of supporters who demonstrated outside the hospital demanding Alfie be allowed to go to Italy. Staff received abuse, personal threats, and even threats to burn down Alder Hey Hospital. As a result, staff were warned to hide their uniforms and ID badges when in public. Such behaviour is both disgraceful and unforgivable, and I hope police IT experts are trying to trace those responsible.
I read today that it is intended to 'light up the sky for Alfie' in Southport in a few days' time. This has been enthusiastically received by some, while others, myself included, have pointed out that sending up balloons and lanterns can kill wildlife and cause fires when they come back down to earth. Others have replied that it's just for one day, so presumably that's all right then. One young woman became abusive while saying that she simply wanted to show respect - the irony was completely lost on her.
Sadly, on the news today I heard that several children had been among among the 25 people in Afghanistan killed by a suicide bomber. I also learnt today that, on average, in every week in the UK 50 children under a year old die in England and Wales*. Why are there no ceremonies to mark the deaths of all those lost children? Their parents' grief will be no less.
The story of Alfie has certainly provoked a huge emotional response in the country. There's no doubt it's an unusual case, very newsworthy with a series of dramatic court cases, appeals to the Pope, and a stream of photographs for the public. I don't blame the parents for using the media to try to achieve their goal with Alfie, but in the process something of a monster was created. Abuse has been heaped upon NHS staff and upon people who reasonably object to a commemoration that might endanger wildlife. It seems that Alfie's Army, having got the bit between their collective teeth, are determined to let nothing impede them. They talk about paying respect to Alfie, but show none to anyone who dares have a different opinion.
Whatever our views on what should or should not have happened, I think all reasonable people can understand the parents' anguish, and deplore the disgraceful treatment of medical staff by certain intolerant 'supporters' of Alfie. The parents dissociated themselves from the worst of the behaviour, even a fortnight ago urging Alfie's Army to stop protesting outside Alder Hey Hospital. Unfortunately, the genie was well out of the bottle by then.
One thing is certain: Alfie's parents left absolutely no stone unturned in their quest to achieve what they considered was right for their son. That they did not succeed was definitely not through any lack of effort in their part. I hope the fact that they did their absolute best for him provides them with a degree of comfort as they grieve.
* Source: Office of National Statistics.
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