Posted on 07/24/2017 11:54:35 AM PDT by Morgana
FULL TITLE: Charlie Gard’s Parents End Their Fight to Save His Life, Say It’s Too Late for Experimental Treatment
The parents of the little boy Charlie Gard, who had been fighting a hospital to save his life say they are ending their legal battle to get him an experimental treatment.
Chris Gard and Connie Yates wanted to take their son to the United States for an experimental treatment. They raised more than $1.5 million for his care. His parents said they know the chance of the experimental treatment working is slim, but they want to try anyway for Charlie’s sake.
But today, Charlie’s parents announced their decision at a hearing today at the British High Court. They made their announcement as a judge was prepared to oversee the latest round of a legal battle that a stressed over the last five months.
A lawyer representing the couple told Justice Francis that “time had run out.” The attorney for the family said that irreparable damage had already been done.
Grant Armstrong said: “This case is now about time. Sadly time has run out. For Charlie it is too late. The damage has been done.”
The decision means that the 11-month-old will stay in Britain and will have his life support removed.
Here’s more:
The parents said they would discuss with the judge and other authorities about how the baby will be allowed to die. Armstrong said the news had left Charlie’s parents extremely distressed and they now “wish to spend the maximum amount of time they have left with Charlie.”
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The decision comes after experts from around the world met with each other and with the parents, to explore the possibilities for Charlie’s treatment. The results of those tests appear to be so devastating that the parents have agreed that the experimental treatment will no longer help.
Charlie has experienced significant muscular atrophy, for instance, as a result of his condition. While the treatment could potentially improve his condition – though doctors have said the chances are low – it would not be able to reverse those effects and so it is too late to pursue that route, the family has agreed.
Charlie’s parents said through their lawyer in court that they hope that the case can change the way medical decisions are made in the future. It should be proof that if mitochondrial treatment is going to take place then doctors should begin as soon as they can, they said.
On Friday, Charlie Gard’s parents had enough and they stormed out of a courtroom after a lawyer for the hospital that is refusing to allow them to transfer Charlie to another country said that a new scan of Charlie’s brain is “sad reading.” The hospital made the scan available to the court before Charlie’s parents had a chance to view it.
Gard’s father yelled “evil” after a lawyer representing Great Ormond Street Hospital broke the news that a report on a new scan on Charlie made for “sad reading.” And Charlie’s mother burst into tears as attorney Katie Gollop told the judge that hospital officials had a negative view of the new scan.
Gollop told the judge that doctors had produced a report on the newest scan and said: “It makes for sad reading.” Then Charlie’s mom began to cry and said: “We haven’t even read it.”
Chris Gard yelled “evil” and added: “I’m not f****** listening to this biased s— anymore.”
The couple then stormed out of court and then the hospital attorney apologized.
Previously, U.S. Congressional leaders approved a measure to grant Charlie and his parents permanent residency status in an effort to make it easier for him to receive an experimental treatment. Pro-life Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Washington, led the effort; her daughter also was diagnosed with a fatal condition but survived because of an experimental treatment.
Last week, Dr. Michio Hirano, MD, a Harvard-trained neurologist, examined Charlie this week to provide his opinion about experimental treatment. He previously said he thinks the 11-month-old has a chance of benefiting from the therapy.
Despite all of his problems, Charlie’s parents – and millions like them – believe that Charlie is a valuable, living human being who should be given a chance to live.
Leading pro-life advocates helped Charlie’s parents fight for his life.
Charlie’s parents brought Terri Schiavo’s brother Bobby Schindler to London to help them fight for care for their son. Schindler spoke with LifeNews exclusively about their invitation.
Schindler told LifeNews: “We are here by invitation from the family to come alongside them as they struggle to save their son, Charlie. The critical issue here is not a political one, but the simple notion that families know what is best for their loved ones.”
“Charlie’s situation is very reminiscent of my family’s battle to save my sister, Terri. Hopefully being here can help his parents, Connie and Charlie, deal with the day-to-day emotional roller coaster, as they fight for their son’s right to live,” Schindler added.
Sadly, the battle to save Charlie has come to an end.
Terri’s list
Life ping
I wonder how committed those in “parliment’ would be to prevent one of their own grandchildren from getting such treatment as was proposed?
Sad to hear this.
I am sure they were severely pressured to do this.
I feel sorry for them, that they were not able to at least try to save their son.
Their brats would have been on the first flight out.
The UK decided to run out the clock til it was too late to save this adorable baby boy..they are MURDERERS plain and simple..six months earlier this child might have had a chance to survive, or even be cured but now its too late..welcome to single payer people..and this is what the left wants in America
Wouldn’t have been too late if the EU and British courts had butted out of the whole process months ago.
The kid is going to die because of them.
+1
Exactly. All GOSH needed to ensure Charlie’s death was time. They dragged this out for many mos. They knew they’d win in the end.
This is just so inexpressibly sad. The vicious hospital personnel and judges won’t lose a wink of sleep over that baby’s death, but his parents and many people who have followed his story will always wonder if the treatment might have worked if Charlie could have received it months ago. This just confirms my sheer hatred of everything the Left stands for. Sweet little Charlie is just the latest innocent victim of Marxism and all its derivative isms. He joins untold tens of millions. Heartbreaking.
In socialism, the state is God. If it’s healthcare system can’t save your life, your life can’t be saved - and capitalistic offers to save your life will be fought to the literal death, lest the state be embarrassed by its limitations.
This is how death panels work. they are not labeled as such, but take the form of bureaucratic obstacles to treatment
Great Britain will suffer for this.
Great Britain will suffer for this.
Divine Justice...what goes around comes around.
It’s not health. It’s not money. It’s control.
Welcome to single payer.
The UK decided to run out the clock til it was too late to save this adorable baby boy..they are MURDERERS plain and simple..six months earlier this child might have had a chance to survive, or even be cured but now its too late..welcome to single payer people..and this is what the left wants in America
Precious Charlie Gard will FOREVER be the innocent face of SINGLE PAYER/death panels.
God bless and keep this sweet baby boy.
Glad Donald J. Trump is now President. At least this country has a fighting to get rid of hot mess called Obamacare.
Correction: “fighting chance”.
The hospital even said that its NOT up to the parents to decide the fate of the child..isn’t it ironic, you always hear liberals say “My Body My Choice” but when it comes to parents making their OWN decisions involving their sick children these same liberals say “Its not your choice its the Govts”
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