Judge attacks social media ‘experts’ who don’t know all the facts
THE judge in the Charlie Gard case yesterday lamented social media for giving a platform to users ‘who know almost nothing’.
Mr Justice Francis poured scorn on the ‘absurd notion’ by online commentators that the baby had been a ‘prisoner of the NHS’.
And he condemned the tide of abuse directed at the doctors and nurses of Great Ormond Street Hospital as well as Charlie’s parents.
He told London’s High Court: ‘ The world of social media doubtless has very many benefits but one of its pitfalls, I suggest, is that when cases such as this go viral, the watching world feels entitled to express opinions – whether or not they are evidence-based.
‘A lot of things have been said by those who know almost nothing about this case but who feel entitled to express opinions... based on feelings rather than facts’.
The judge said the case had escalated to an ‘international scale’ and had even involved US President Donald Trump, the Vatican and Prime Minister Theresa May. But he said he had to try cases on the basis of evidence – and urged anyone who wanted to understand it to examine his judgments.
He said one idea circulating online held that Charlie was a ‘ prisoner’ but the judge described it as ‘the antithesis of the truth’.
Although he did not identify anyone in particular, Alasdair Seton-Marsden – a former Ukip candidate who was briefly the family spokesman – went on US television recently to make a series of claims about Charlie.
Mr Seton-Marsden said of the youngster: ‘ Literally, he is being held captive by effectively the British state and the British national health system.’
He also told Sky News that if Charlie’s parents had been rich and not ‘ ordinary people’, their son ‘wouldn’t have become what is essentially – and these are my words – a prisoner of the state. The child is effectively being taken prisoner by the NHS and by the state’.
Yesterday the judge said the court was involved ‘precisely because the hospital does not have the power’ to determine Charlie’s best interests.
He said it was his ‘ duty to comment briefly on the absurd notion which has appeared in recent days that Charlie has been a prisoner of the National Health Service or that the National Health Service has the power to decide Charlie’s fate. This is the antithesis of the truth.
‘In this country children have rights independent of their parents.’
Mr Justice Francis also condemned abuse of the medical team at London’s world renowned Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). He said: ‘Some of the staff at that hospital have been subjected to serious threats and abuse. I made it clear before, and make it clear now, that I am completely satisfied that these fine parents have nothing whatever to do with those threats.
‘Each and every man and woman working at Great Ormond Street Hospital is dedicated to the treatment of sick, very often desperately sick, children. These surgeons, physicians, doctors, nurses, ancillary staff, technicians and all others working there are dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in the treatment of sick children and it is in my judgment a disgrace that they should have been subjected to any form of abuse whatsoever and it is to be condemned.’
Last Saturday, hospital chief executive Mary MacLeod called police amid revelations of a ‘shocking and disgraceful tide of hostility and disturbance’. She added: ‘ Staff have received abuse both in the street and online. Thousands of abusive messages have been sent to doctors and nurses whose life’s work is to care for sick children. Many of these messages are menacing, including death threats. Families have been harassed and discomforted while visiting their children, and we have received complaints of unacceptable behaviour even within the hospital itself.’
Charlie’s parents Connie Yates and Chris Gard have repeatedly condemned the abuse of medical staff and say they have also been on the receiving end of vile abuse.
Miss Yates said they were ‘ extremely upset by the backlash we have received after Great Ormond Street Hospital put out their statement’, adding: ‘ We too have suffered from the most hurtful comments from the public and GOSH is aware of this. Chris and I are just ordinary parents with a very sick baby. We have always had the utmost respect for all the staff who work tirelessly at Great Ormond Street Hospital.’
‘Antithesis of the truth’
s.greenhill@daiymail.co.uk