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Dr Izabela Pałgan, a paediatrician and children’s oncologist from Bydgoszcz in Poland, claims to have diagnosed the 23-month-old toddler in January on his parent’s request. She has now spoken to RadioWnet, claiming Alfie’s condition is not as dire as everyone has been led to believe. She said: “The doctors at the hospital in Liverpool have approached the High Court for permission to unplug the child from his life support machinery, claiming it will be in his best interests. “But the child is not a dying child. On the Paediatric Glasgow Coma Scale the child ranks at about eight to nine points, so this is not a case of brain death.


“The child reacts to his father’s voice and periodically opens his eyes. Periodically the boy also clenches his mouth when given a dummy, therefore he shows reactions. “The parents have absolutely stated the child communicates with them when they speak to him – they feel the child somehow feels their emotions and can emotionally connect with them. “Certainly this is not a dying child. In Poland and I think in other European countries as well, children like this are simply taken care of with palliative care or home care.” According to Dr Pałgan, the expert was called in to review Alfie’s case after family supporters sought out medical experts who could give a second opinion on Alfie’s conditions.

She said the reason for this was a general lack of trust towards the hospital staff in Liverpool.


The revelations followed a final unsuccessful bid by parents Tom Evans and Kate James to convince the Court of Appeals to let them take Alfie to Italy for further treatment. Alfie was unplugged from his ventilators this Monday, many months after succumbing to his mystery disease in December 2016. The couple’s lawyers urged the courts on Wednesday to reconsider Alfie’s last-ditch attempt at health, after months of long drawn out legal battles.

Alfie Evans: A life in pictures Facebook PA PA PA PA EPA REUTERS EPA AFP/Getty Images PA Facebook Facebook Facebook Facebook Facebook Facebook PA Facebook Facebook Alfie's Army / Facebook AFP/Getty Images

Mr Justice Hayden who presided over an emergency High Court hearing on Tuesday ruled it is in Alfie’s best interest not to leave the country. This was however questioned by Dr Pałgan who claimed Alfie’s fight could still be far from over although she conceded this is a big uncertainty. Instead she argued Alfie is being held captive at Alder Hey Hospital against his parent’s wishes. She said: “If the parents want to move the child to another hospital, they have the right to chose a doctor, the right to chose where the child will be treated, and no one should deny them that right.

PA Alfie Evans' parents are fighting to take their son to Italy for treatment

“If they do not want to treat him in Hospital X and want to treat him in Hospital Y instead, they can do that. “However in Alder Hey the child has been clearly imprisoned – the parents have been denied moving the child to other hospitals which have offered their help. “And this is, I believe, a violation of human rights and the right to life and the rights of the parents. It’s unbelievable.” Earlier on Wednesday evening, staff at Alder Hey Hospital released an open letter in regards to the high profile case which has gripped the nation.

PA Alfie Evans' case has gathered interest from around the globe

The open letter penned by Sir David Henshaw, chairman of the Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, and chief executive Louise Shepherd said everyone at the hospital was touched by Alfie’s case. The letter read: "Alfie Evans has deeply affected us all at Alder Hey. "There isn't one member of our staff untouched by his desperate story, the facts of the case and the publicity surrounding it.” However Dr Pałgan said it is “scary” how the rule of the judiciary presides over the child’s life, urging people to “stand against it”.

Alfie Evans: A look back at the heartbreaking case Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana Alfie's Army / Facebook PA AFP/Getty Images Getty Images PA AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Getty Images PA AFP/Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images PA PA Getty Images PA AFP/Getty Images Getty Images

In his ruling on Wednesday, Lord Justice McFarlane who lead the Court of Appeal hearing, said: "This is awful for everyone concerned. “We are in the middle of palliative care plan at Alder Hey Hospital. "I can see no basis that judgement was wrong." On Thursday morning, Alfie's father Tom Evans expressed his sadness at not being able to fight to take his son to Italy - but said he would now start asking to take the young boy home. He said: "He's been off a ventilator for three days now, there's been no deterioration. "He hasn't woke up, he's still a little bit weak but what we ask for is to go home to sustain his life."