ROME, Nov 6 (Reuters) - The Italian government on Monday granted citizenship to a critically ill baby girl from Britain, in a move aimed at preventing doctors from weaning her off life support and allowing her to be moved to Italy.
Eight-month-old Indi Gregory suffers from a rare mitochondrial disease, which means that her cells do not produce enough energy.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government stepped into the controversy by holding an emergency meeting on Monday which made Gregory an Italian citizen.
Galeazzo Bignami, a junior minister, said the government's move would allow the baby's transfer to the Bambino Gesu paediatric hospital, and that without it her life support would have been turned off on Monday.
The toddler, Alfie Evans, died a few days after his life support was removed.
Persons:
Indi Gregory, Giorgia Meloni's, Gregory, Meloni, Galeazzo Bignami, Gregory's, Dean Gregory, Alfie Evans, Alvise Armellini, Gavin Jones, Nick Macfie
Organizations:
Thomson
Locations:
Britain, Italy, Nottingham, England, Rome, Italian, Vatican, St Peter's