Baby Charlie Gard, who has a rare genetic disease keeping him on life support, has been granted permanent U.S. residence, opening the door to receiving an experimental medical treatment that could save his life.
Gard was born in August with mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome, and his parents have been fighting to get him access to the care he needs.
His parents raised money to cover the costs of the treatment, but doctors and European courts argued that he should ‘die in dignity.’
Congress has now stepped in, with Gard and his parents being granted residency by Congress.
.@HouseAppropsGOP voted today to give lawful permanent residence to #CharlieGard so he can come to the US for world class medical care pic.twitter.com/FUTbfeZSr4
— Rep. Kevin Yoder (@RepKevinYoder) July 18, 2017
We just passed amendment that grants permanent resident status to #CharlieGard and family so Charlie can get the medical treatment he needs.
— Jeff Fortenberry (@JeffFortenberry) July 18, 2017
Via CNBC:
The ongoing battle for treatment for Charlie Gard has taken a new turn, with a U.S. amendment being passed Tuesday granting the terminally ill British baby “legal permanent residency,” in the U.S.
Gillian Christensen, press secretary for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, told CNBC via e-mail that: “We are aware of the amendment and, should the legislation be passed by Congress, stand ready to act as necessary.”
Charlie Gard’s parents Connie Yates and Chris Gard have been fighting a lengthy court battle against doctors from the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London, who want to switch off their son’s life support. Instead, Gard’s parents want him to seek experimental treatment in the U.S. They lost their appeal in the European Court of Human Rights at the end of June, who refused to intervene in British courts.
President Trump earlier this month expressed his support for the terminally ill baby, offering any help that America might provide.
If we can help little #CharlieGard, as per our friends in the U.K. and the Pope, we would be delighted to do so.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 3, 2017
The Charlie Gard case has been a study in the perils of government-run health care, in which medical professionals and court systems determine that a child’s life might not be worth saving.
People keep telling me that the Charlie Gard case is extremely complicated but it does not seem complicated at all.
— Ross Douthat (@DouthatNYT) July 19, 2017
Gard’s parents know what’s best for him, and if they want to try saving his life using their own finances, then they absolutely have that right.
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