MP urges Government to allow Israel to treat child with severe brain damage

An MP has called for the government to intervene in the case of a severely brain damaged girl whose parents want to send her to Israel for treatment.

Health professionals at Manchester University NHS Foundation had concluded “there was no prospect” of two-year-old Alta Fixsler getting better. 

In May, a High Court judge ruled “with immense sadness” that the hospital could remove respiratory treatment and begin palliative care.

In a letter to Health Secretary Matt Hancock, MP Christian Wakeford urged the Government to grant a request from Yuli Edelstein, the Israeli health minister, to treat Alta overseas.

“We understand that the Israeli Minister for Health, Yuli Edelstein, has written to you urging for the transfer of the child to Israel and I would urge you to grant his request,” wrote Wakeford.

He also urged the hospital not to withdraw life-sustaining ventilation from the two-year-old. 

Mr Justice MacDonald, sitting in the High Court last month, ruled that Alta had “no prospect of recovery”, and that taking her abroad would expose her to “further pain”.

Alta, who suffered a brain injury at birth, is unable to breathe, eat or drink without medical intervention.