There is tragic news that the parents of Charlie Gard have dropped the legal fight to treat their terminally ill child. Their attorney has withdrawn the litigation which may have allowed Charlie Gard to be treated in America.
This is so sad:
Charlie Gard’s parents have ended their legal fight over treatment for the critically ill baby, saying that it is “too late” for treatment to work.
Chris Gard and Connie Yates announced their decision as a high court judge was preparing to oversee the latest round of a five-month legal battle.
In a move that brings an end to a protracted, emotional legal case in which Great Ormond Street hospital (Gosh) argued Charlie’s life support should be switched off to prevent him suffering further, the parents said on Monday that they want to withdraw their application for him to receive experimental treatment in the US.
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Their lawyer said that delays meant “it was no longer in Charlie’s interests” to keep him on a ventilator.Speaking from the witness box, Connie Yates said that she hoped her son’s life would not be in vain. “We only wanted to give him a chance of life,” she said, adding that “a whole lot of time has been wasted.”
Outside court, supporters calling themselves Charlie’s Army reacted with anger and tears, chanting: “shame on you judge” and “shame on Gosh”.
Mr Justice Francis had been scheduled to analyse what the couple said was fresh evidence at a hearing in the family division of the high court in London.
Grant Armstrong, representing Charlie’s parents, told the high court in London: “For Charlie, it’s too late, time has run out, irreversible muscular damage has been done and the treatment can no longer be a success.”
He said the parents had made “the most painful of decisions, that only parents can make.”
Tragically, Charlie Gard was born with a rare genetic condition. He’s only able to breathe through a ventilator, and is blind and deaf.
However, all life must be protected and the struggles the family faced while seeking care in England are unacceptable. Socialized, government-run healthcare leads to tragedy.
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Let us pray for Charlie Gard and his family during this difficult time.
