Heartbroken mum of brain-damaged girl, 5, claims ‘NHS wants to let my girl die’ as youngster lies in five-month coma
A DEVASTATED mother is alleging that NHS doctors want to let her terminally ill daughter die.
Shelina Begum, 39, has launched a legal bid to transfer her five-year-old Tafida from the Royal London Hospital to a clinic in Italy.
Her fight will be heard at the High Court in September.
This came after two Italian specialist doctors examined the schoolgirl via video link and said they would treat her.
In an interview with the , lawyer Shelina said: “I am her mum and I have to fight for her.
“We’ve been repeatedly told she is dying, yet she’s always fought for her life. We have to give her this chance of recovery.”
Tafida is currently on a life support machine at the Royal London Hospital, in East London, having suffered a sudden brain injury known as AVM in February.
But last month, doctors said they wanted to withdraw life support.
Shelina said: "I was inconsolable. My whole world had been turned upside down. Within days, they were asking us where we’d like Tafida to die.
She added: "What mum could stand by and let their child die if there is even a glimmer of hope."
The little girl, who was in her first year of primary school, was rushed to hospital and later transferred to a specialist hospital for brain surgery.
We have to give her this chance of recovery
Mum Shelina Begum
Five months on, her family say she is starting to show signs of progress, such as reacting to pain, movement of limbs and opening and closing of eyes.
In a petition they have started, her mum said: "We have found a European hospital willing to continue treatment for Tafida but sadly Royal London Hospital are refusing to release her.
"We would like to request Royal London Hospital to give this five year old child a chance to make a recovery and allow her to be transferred to a hospital that is willing to take care of her and continue with her treatment."
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Barts Health NHS Trust told The Sun Online: "This is a sad situation, in which our teams continue to work very closely with the family to include them and offer our support.
"Our expert clinicians caring for Tafida consider, in discussion with additional medical experts from specialist centres outside of the Trust, that further medical treatment would not improve her condition and would not be in her best interests.
"We recognise how difficult this is for all involved and, in accordance with national guidance from the General Medical Council in complex cases, are seeking the expert opinion of the High Court to ensure the Trust and the family provide the most appropriate care."
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