International

British toddler at center of legal battle dies after taken off life support

The terminally ill 23-month-old British toddler at the center of a legal battle died on Saturday.

The toddler, Alfie Evans, had a degenerative brain condition that was, according to doctors, incurable.

Evans had been in a semi-vegetative state for more than a year and the hospital he had been treated at in Liverpool, England concluded that any further treatment would be in vain.

The toddler’s parents had unsuccessfully fought a series of court battles to keep him on life support.

Nonetheless, the hospital took Evans off life support on Monday, against his parent’s wishes.

On Wednesday, the British Court of Appeals upheld a ruling that took away care and sustenance from the toddler and prevented his parents from seeking treatment elsewhere.

The parent’s fight to get medical care for their child attracted the attention of a number of U.S. political figures, especially conservatives.

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On the same day as the Court of Appeals ruling, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) called on the United Kingdom to allow Evans’ parents to take their child out of the country for medical care. He also used the Evans case to argue against socialized medicine.

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert tweeted her support for the Evans family.

After Evans’ passing, a number of international leaders, including Pope Francis, honored the toddler and his parents.