The Italian government granted citizenship to a British infant suffering from a serious illness on Monday, aiming to prevent doctors from discontinuing her life support and facilitating her transfer to Italy. Eight-month-old Indi Gregory suffers from a rare mitochondrial disease, which means her cells do not generate enough energy. A hospital in Nottingham, central England, has stated that there is no point in continuing her treatment.
The Supreme Court in England approved this decision, ruling last month that it was in the baby’s "best interest" to remove her from life support, and last week rejected a request from her parents to allow her transfer to a children’s hospital run by the Vatican in Rome. The Italian government, led by Giorgia Meloni, intervened in this controversial case and held an emergency meeting on Monday, during which they granted citizenship to Gregory. This case was the only item on the Cabinet's agenda.
Deputy Minister Galeazzo Bignami stated on Facebook that, thanks to this measure, Gregory would be able to receive care at the Bambino Gesù Hospital for children. He noted that "if it weren’t for the action taken by the Italian government, the infant’s life support would have been discontinued today." An Italian government source confirmed to Reuters that Gregory's parents can now petition the Italian consulate in Britain to request her transfer to Italy, but clarified that Britain is not obligated to approve the request. According to the Christian Concern group representing the parents, the Italian government offered to cover the treatment costs at Bambino Gesù Hospital.
