Alta Fixsler: Toddler dies in hospice after parents' legal battle fails

Alta Fixsler suffered a brain injury at birth and could not breathe, drink or eat without medical help

A seriously ill two-year-old girl whose parents wanted her to be at home at the end of her life has died in a hospice.

Alta Fixsler, from Salford, suffered a brain injury at birth and died, surrounded by her family, on Monday.

Earlier this month, her parents lost their legal battle against Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust for life support to be withdrawn at home rather than in hospital or a hospice.

Her father told the BBC that Alta "was our whole world".

A High Court judge had ruled her treatment should be withdrawn in a children's hospice.

Her father, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said: "She passed away in a hospice on Monday. I don't know even how to explain how I am feeling.

"She fought for her life for three hours after the life support was turned off."

Following her brain injury at birth, Alta was left unable to breathe, drink or eat without medical help.

Her father said the protracted court battle had been "very painful".

"The trust would not let us take her home," he added.

Judges at the High Court ruled Alta's treatment should be withdrawn

The girl's parents, who are Hasidic Jews, previously lost their fight against the removal of life support. They had argued it was against their faith.

Her father previously told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that taking her home was "something that we wanted from day one when the doctors said she is not going to live more than a few hours".

Throughout the legal battle medics insisted Alta had no chance of recovery.

High Court judge Mr Justice MacDonald also said her parents' idea of taking her abroad to Israel for alternative treatment would expose her to "further pain".

He said ceasing life-sustaining treatment was in the toddler's "best interests" and moving her would cause her discomfort "for no medical benefit".

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A spokesman for Alta's family said: "Despite our best efforts and deep discussions to continue Alta's critical care and give her the best possible quality of life, we are distraught at the decision taken by the court to end her life.

"We strongly believe that making life-changing decisions on behalf of children ought to be a parental right and it is important that we open up the debate around this.

"We call on the government to look at the current legislation and change it."

A spokesman for law firm TKD Solicitors, which represented Alta's parents, said she had been remembered at a funeral service in Israel.

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