By Steve Ertelt
Life News
The brother of Terri Schiavo has slammed the British court system that essentially condemned Alfie Evans to death. Bobby Schindler tells LifeNews that courts should never have prevent Afie’s parents from caring for their son, who ultimately died on Saturday less than a week after doctors yanked his life support without their consent.
Bobby Schindler and his family fought a losing uphill battle against the court system that decided Terri was better off dead than living as a disabled patient. He certainly understands what happens when courts and doctors say someone should die.
Alfie Evans ended up dying very early Saturday morning after the children’s hospital that was supposed to provide him with appropriate medical care and treatment disconnected his life support without his parents’ permission.
Life News
The brother of Terri Schiavo has slammed the British court system that essentially condemned Alfie Evans to death. Bobby Schindler tells LifeNews that courts should never have prevent Afie’s parents from caring for their son, who ultimately died on Saturday less than a week after doctors yanked his life support without their consent.
Bobby Schindler and his family fought a losing uphill battle against the court system that decided Terri was better off dead than living as a disabled patient. He certainly understands what happens when courts and doctors say someone should die.
Alfie Evans ended up dying very early Saturday morning after the children’s hospital that was supposed to provide him with appropriate medical care and treatment disconnected his life support without his parents’ permission.
That action came after a long and extensive legal battle between Alfie’s parents and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, with the British court system agreeing with doctors by saying that Alfie was supposedly too far gone for additional care and treatment or experimental medical treatment to possibly help his neurological condition.
Now, Terri Schiavo’s brother Bobby Schindler is weighing in — saying “Alfie captured the attention of millions worldwide, and Tom and Kate Evans, his heroic parents, have embodied the best in parental love and commitment.”
The head of the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network told LifeNews: “Like Tom and Kate Evans, I know how terrible it is to be powerless to care for a loved one, but I cannot imagine the unique tragedy of being prevented from caring for a child in the way that the United Kingdom and European Courts barred them from exercising what so many recognize as their basic parental rights to provide care.”
The parallels of what happened in the Terri Schiavo case and what happened with little Alfie Evans are scary indeed. In both instances a court system decided that a patient is better off dead and that family ought to have no legal right whatsoever to have a say in their life or death — even if those family members are willing to provide care and treatment for their loved one.
That’s why Schindler weighed in previously on the battle to save Alfie’s life. He said at the time that “Alfie appears set to die from lack of food and water. And perversely, UK courts and physicians continue to insist that this will be in Aflie’s best interest, due to his cognitive state.”
After Terri’s death, Bobby and his family started the Terri Schaivo Life and Hope Network to help other disables patients like her.
Now, Terri Schiavo’s brother Bobby Schindler is weighing in — saying “Alfie captured the attention of millions worldwide, and Tom and Kate Evans, his heroic parents, have embodied the best in parental love and commitment.”
The head of the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network told LifeNews: “Like Tom and Kate Evans, I know how terrible it is to be powerless to care for a loved one, but I cannot imagine the unique tragedy of being prevented from caring for a child in the way that the United Kingdom and European Courts barred them from exercising what so many recognize as their basic parental rights to provide care.”
“We will honor Alfie’s memory,” concluded Schindler, “and we will do whatever we can to affirm the value of every life, regardless of condition and the right of every parent to care for their children in a life-affirming way.”Schindler said he is encouraged by nascent discussion of “Alfie’s Law”, or similar legal reform that would restore to parents the right to provide basic and ordinary care and prohibit national authorities from needlessly substituting their own judgment or otherwise intentionally causing death as if it were a legitimate medical treatment.
The parallels of what happened in the Terri Schiavo case and what happened with little Alfie Evans are scary indeed. In both instances a court system decided that a patient is better off dead and that family ought to have no legal right whatsoever to have a say in their life or death — even if those family members are willing to provide care and treatment for their loved one.
That’s why Schindler weighed in previously on the battle to save Alfie’s life. He said at the time that “Alfie appears set to die from lack of food and water. And perversely, UK courts and physicians continue to insist that this will be in Aflie’s best interest, due to his cognitive state.”
After Terri’s death, Bobby and his family started the Terri Schaivo Life and Hope Network to help other disables patients like her.
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