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A EUROPEAN COURT has ruled that doctors in the UK must continue to treat a terminally ill baby boy until midnight on Tuesday.
Ten-month-old baby Charlie Gard suffers from a rare genetic condition and has brain damage from which he will not recover.
He is being kept alive by way of artificial ventilation at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
The child’s parents have been battling to take him to the US where he would undergo an experimental treatment but doctors have concluded that it could cause prolonged suffering.
In April, a UK High Court judge had sided with the doctors and said that his life-support should be switched and he should be allowed to “die with dignity”.
The couple’s challenge to the Supreme Court was defeated on Thursday and another appeal application was made to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
Now in an interim ruling, the ECHR has found that the treatment of the child should continue until at least next week to give judges a chance to review the case:
In the interests of the parties and the proper conduct of the proceedings before it, they should provide Charlie Gard with such treatment and nursing care as may be appropriate to ensure that he suffers the least distress and retains the greatest dignity consistent, insofar as possible, with maintaining life until midnight on Tuesday 13 June 2017.
“The interim measure granted today in the application… has been applied temporarily in order to allow the European Court to examine the request in a Chamber formation of seven judges,” the court added.
The child’s parents had hoped to take him to the US where he would undergo a treatment trial for his form of mitochondrial disease.
More than £1.3 million has been raised online for the treatment, through more than 83,000 donations.
With reporting by © – AFP 2017
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I feel so sorry for his mam and dad. Myself and my wife had to turn off the life support a year ago and its the hardest thing we’ve ever done. But it it has to be done!!!!!!. X
@andrew sutton: cant even imagine andrew. I hope your both doing well
@andrew sutton: there are no words for that. So sorry.
Just gave my own little heir to the mortgage an extra squeeze while reading this
@⚡ Seánie ⚡: heir to the mortgage…That brought a smile to my face after reading such a heart wrenching situation. Wishing the parents well. :-(
He is a beautiful little man.
@Noj Lloc: thinking exactly the same thing, that perfect little mouth, how hard it must be for his parents to let him go thinking that maybe there is a chance however slim that chance is, at the very least they can be safe in the knowledge they fought to give him every chance, heartbreaking…..
@Kate Flaherty: even if it makes him suffer more ?
Let the poor child die with dignity surrounded by love. There is no point in prolonging his suffering in a pointless quest. The brain damage is permanent. Hold him. Love him. Cherish him. Let him go.
@sean o’dhubhghaill: could you? Could I? I’m not sure I could. Unimaginable.
@Matt Donovan: It’s the money grabbing Dr in the US that should be ashamed, he gave those parents false hope, that they have now clung on to.
@sean o’dhubhghaill: such a hard call. As a parent you would fight every day and if someone said I can make your baby better you’d jump on it. But harshly if this treatment was real then it would be standard practice. My love to the parents and child at this incredibly difficult time.
This is just such a heart breaking situation.
He looks so perfect. What a horrific situation these parents find themselves in where a court decides the fate of their child. Truly heartbreaking stuff.
@Arn: the court has no choice but to put the child first. Experts say he would suffer unnecessarily.
I would fight and hold hope till the last minute if he was mine. Fight on lil man.
@Brian Power: the little guy can’t fight .. he’s already gone . Just the machines keeping him alive .really sad case .
I understand people feeling strongly and having differing views but this is such a personal painful story. I think comments should be locked. They’re not though so spare a thought for the baby’s parents. They’re going through hell. Hope his guardian angel leads him wherever he should be. Bless him.
A true champion!
Perhaps your worst nightmare and then some.
Sad story. Hope the parents can find some peace eventually
The parents are being impossibly selfish, let this poor child die with dignity – how cruel to let an innocent baby suffer!
@Arnie: Imagine not wanting to your child to die!
I agree with the parents, this idea that to avoid suffering you should let someone die . Would any parent turn down severe cancer treatment on one of their kids if their was a chance it would safe their life’s. Of corse not. Their is a time to let go perhaps but as a last resort and not simply to avoid suffering. I’m sure been delivered is painful for a baby but we all done it right.
This is the abortion culture in England on display right here if there’s a chance the baby won’t survive we’re not wasting resources on it . Before or after birth and this is what’s coming to Irish hospitals if we repeal the eight. People need to think about this carefully before you change the law.
@Stephen: stretching it a bit arent you?
Nonsense.
How can anyone say they would not fight for there kid’s is beyond me. If anything happen to any of my 3 kids in would do everything in my power to save them. So don’t judge them they just want there little man two have a chance. How can anyone say it won’t work if there is a chance I will no parent what’s to see there child die before them. I know I would never gave up so I can see where they are coming from it’s just so heartbreaking.
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