Family’s final wish denied as Charlie Gard’s last hours mapped out
CHARLIE GARD’S heartbroken mother said their “final wish” had been denied after the High Court ruled that her son should be moved to a hospice and his life support withdrawn shortly afterwards.
Connie Yates and her partner, Chris Gard, had desperately hoped to spend several days with their terminally ill son before he died. But Mr Justice Francis sided with Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) experts who argued that extending his life would only cause him more pain.
His order sets out arrangements for the 11-month-old’s final hours which will “inevitably result in Charlie’s death within a short period thereafter”.
Ms Yates said: “‘We just want some peace with our son, no hospital, no lawyers, no courts, no media, just quality time with Charlie away from everything to say goodbye to him in the most loving way. Most people won’t ever have to go through what we have been through, we’ve had no control over our son’s life and no control over our son’s death.”
In a statement, GOSH expressed “deep regret” that “profound and heartfelt differences between Charlie’s doctors and his parents have had to be played out in court over such a protracted period”.
The hospital said doctors had tried “absolutely everything” to accommodate the wishes of Charlie’s parents, including exploring “the unprecedented step of delivering intensive life support away from the hospital”. “It has been a uniquely painful and distressing process for all concerned,” it added. “Every single one of us wishes there could have been a less tragic outcome.”
Charlie’s parents, from Bedfont, west London, had been given until noon yesterday to agree a care plan with the hospital. But the judge ordered that if the dispute was not settled, Charlie would be moved to a hospice and life support treatment would be withdrawn shortly after he arrives.
Grant Armstrong, who led Charlie’s parents’ legal team, said the couple wanted to privately fund care at a hospice where Charlie could continue to receive life-support treatment for days before being allowed to die. But hospital bosses said they were not satisfied that a properly-qualified specialist would be in control under the plan.
Ms Yates walked out of Wednesday’s hearing in tears. She yelled: “I hope you are happy with yourselves.”
Ms Yates added: “I’m shocked that after all we’ve been through they won’t allow us this extra time.”