A plane carrying a seriously
brain-damaged British girl, Tafida Raqeeb, touched down in Genoa
Tuesday ahead of her transfer to the northwestern Italian city's
Gaslini Children's Hospital after the family won an appeal
against pulling the plug at the Royal London Hospital.
Five-year-old Tafida is to get treatment at the Galsini after
the British high court upheld an appeal from her parents on
October 3.
Doctors at the Royal London Hospital said Tafida Raqeeb had
no hope of recovering from a brain injury and her life support
should be stopped.
But a judge at the Royal Courts of Justice upheld an appeal
from her parents who said Genoa's Gaslini Hospital was prepared
to continue treating her by performing a tracheotomy.
Tafida is in a state of minimal consciousness and is not in
pain.
The court ruling was described as "sensational" by the Mail
online after a string of contrary rulings in similar cases.
The parents, 39-year-old immigration lawyer Shelina Begum and
45-year-old building consultant Mohammed Raqeeb, had invoked
their religious beliefs saying that Islam was contrary to
pulling the plug on terminal patients.
Judge Alistair MacDonald did not rule on the religious aspect
of the case but ruled against the London hospital's contention
that withdrawing her life support was in the girl's best
interests.
Doctors in London said she was no longer aware of anything
and had no prospect of recovery.
The mother rejoiced saying "Tafida is not dying, is not
suffering, she is stable and needs time; and now she is aware of
my presence".
Before the possible move to the Gaslini, however, it remains
to be seen whether the Royal London Hospital decides to appeal
the verdict.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA