Sulla (im)mobilità sanitaria transfrontaliera nel contesto della (il)libertà di circolazione e di cura all’interno del territorio europeo: il “caso” inglese del piccolo Alfie Evans

Abstract

This article is focused on the medical and judicial “case” of a little, English patient, Alfie Evans, suffering from a neurodegenerative pathology with probable genetic cause, which cannot be counteracted with the currently available treatments. By proposing controversial hermeneutical dynamics, English doctors and judges have defined his life as “futile”, they have decided to deprive him of vital support and to cause premature death against his parents’ will, not allowing his transfer to other hospitals and, therefore, denying the right to free movement in the European territory and the right to use cross-border healthcare mobility. Ethically and legally sensitive issues have intertwined, shaking world public opinion, and raising questions of pressing topicality.