Sen. Cruz Issues Statement on Alfie Evans

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today issued the following statement urging the UK government to grant the request of the family of Alfie Evans to pursue medical treatment in Italy:

“Alfie Evans was born on May 9, 2016 in the United Kingdom. When he was only several months old, he was struck by a mysterious illness, and slipped into coma.

“Doctors initially thought that Alfie would not survive long, but he fought back time and time again, until a chest infection forced him to rely on a ventilator.

“Alfie’s parents, Kate James and Tom Evans, wish to seek experimental treatments for what is thought to be a mitochondrial condition. Italy has granted Alfie citizenship and offered to transport him to a Vatican hospital. But UK and European courts have denied their right to seek alternate treatments for their son and instead have forcibly kept him in a hospital. Now they have turned off the ventilator and are waiting for him to die. These events remind us of the tragic case of Charlie Gard last year.

“It is a sad irony that while the people of the UK are busy celebrating a royal birth, its government is brushing off a commoner’s right to life. It is a grim reminder that systems of socialized medicine like the NHS vest the state with power over human lives, transforming citizens into subjects.

“Alfie’s life support was turned off two days ago. National Health Service (NHS) doctors expected that he would pass away within minutes. Again, he fought back; at the time of this writing, he is continuing to breathe without assistance. But time is of the essence.

“I urge the UK government to grant the Evans family’s request to treat their precious child in Italy. Americans strive to achieve the promise of ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness’ for all our citizens, no matter how young or old. I encourage all my fellow Americans to join me today in praying for Alfie and his family.”

###