Evans v Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust (No 2)

Subject Matter

SUPREME COURT — Application for permission to appeal — Terminally ill hospitalised child — Courts finding it in best of interests of terminally ill child for hospital to withdraw life-sustaining treatment against parents’ wishes — Parents’ second application to Supreme Court for permission to appeal by way of application for habeas corpus — Whether arguable point of law of general public importance — Whether permission to be granted

[2018] 2 FLR 1219; brief reasons, SC(E)

HABEAS CORPUS — Child — Terminally ill hospitalised child — Child suffering from progressive, fatal neurodegenerative condition causing significant brain damage — Declaration that lawful for artificial ventilation to be withdrawn — Parents applying for writ of habeas corpus after exhausting other avenues of appeal — Parents asserting child unlawfully detained in hospital — Judge refusing application — Whether child deprived of liberty contrary to Convention rights — Whether writ of habeas corpus to be granted — Human Rights Act 1998 (c 42), Sch 1, Pt I, art 5

[2018] EWCA Civ 805; [2018] 2 FLR 1269, CA

Legislation Considered

Statutes

Human Rights Act 1998 (c 42), , Sch 1, Pt I, art 5

Cases Cited

Cases cited in: Evans v Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust (No 2) [2018] EWHC 818 (Fam), Fam D

Piglowska v Piglowski [1999] UKHL 27; [1999] 1 WLR 1360; [1999] 3 All ER 632; [1999] 2 FLR 763; [1999] 2 FCR 481, HL(E)

Cases cited in: Evans v Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust (No 2) [2018] EWCA Civ 805; [2018] 2 FLR 1269, CA

Gard v United Kingdom (Appn No 39793/17); [2017] 2 FLR 773; (2017) 65 EHRR SE9, ECtHR

In re Gard (A Child) (Child on Life Support: Withdrawal of Treatment) [2017] EWCA Civ 410; [2018] 4 WLR 5; [2018] 1 All ER 569; [2017] 2 FLR 739; (2017) 157 BMLR 1; [2017] Med LR 417; [2017] WLR (D) 391; The Times, 11 July 2017, CA

In re W (A Minor) (Medical Treatment: Court’s Jurisdiction) [1993] Fam 64; [1992] 3 WLR 758; [1992] 4 All ER 627, CA

R (F) v Inner South London Senior Coroner (Intensive Care Society intervening) [2017] EWCA Civ 31; [2018] QB 487; [2017] 3 WLR 382; [2017] COPLR 172; [2017] Med LR 161; [2017] WLR (D) 43; [2017] Inquest LR 118, CA

R v Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, Ex parte Blood [1999] Fam 151; [1996] 3 WLR 1176, QBD

Cases citing

Cases citing: Evans v Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust (No 2) [2018] EWHC 818 (Fam), Fam D

Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust v Evans (No 3) [2018] EWHC 953 (Fam); [2018] 2 FLR 1246, Fam D

Cases citing: Evans v Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust (No 2) [2018] EWCA Civ 805; [2018] 2 FLR 1269, CA

Abbasi v Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2021] EWHC 1699 (Fam); [2022] Fam 180; [2022] 2 WLR 465; [2022] 1 FLR 348; [2021] WLR(D) 373, Fam D

Abbasi v Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2023] EWCA Civ 331; [2023] Fam 287; [2023] 3 WLR 575; [2023] 4 All ER 116; [2023] 2 FLR 1267; [2023] WLR(D) 166, CA

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust v Gregory (Inherent Jurisdiction) [2023] EWHC 2753 (Fam); [2024] 1 FLR 810, Fam D

R (Raqeeb) v Barts NHS Foundation Trust [2019] EWHC 2531 (Admin); [2020] 3 All ER 663; [2020] 1 FLR 1298, QBD

Commentary

Law and Religion blog
ECtHR rules application in Alfie Evans case inadmissible Case comment

Transparency Project
Alfie Evans: Summary and useful links Case comment

Alfie Evans, best interests, and parental rights Case comment