Parents lose court battle to keep baby alive
COURT: JUDGE SAYS DECISION MADE WITH THE ‘HEAVIEST OF HEARTS’
THE HEARTBROKEN parents of baby Charlie Gard are planning to spend more time with their tragic son after a High Court judge ruled that doctors could stop providing life-support treatment.
Mr Justice Francis decided yesterday that the eight-monthold, who suffers from a rare genetic condition and has brain damage, should move to a palliative care regime and be allowed to “die with dignity”.
His parents, Chris Gard and Connie Yates, of Bedfont, west London, who are both in their early 30s, want to be allowed to take him to an American hospital for an experimental treatment.
The couple’s solicitor, Laura Hobey-Hamsher, said their immediate priority was to spend time with Charlie.
She said they had three weeks to formulate an appeal and wanted time to consider their next step.
“Chris and Connie are devastated by today’s decision,” she said after the hearing.
Mr Justice Francis ruled with the “heaviest of hearts” that lifesupport treatment should stop.
THE DEVASTATED parents of Charlie Gard were today considering mounting an appeal after a judge ruled that doctors could stop life-support treatment for their gravely-ill baby against their wishes, their lawyer said.
Specialists at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London say eight-month-old Charlie, who suffers from a rare genetic condition and has brain damage, should move to a palliative care regime.
But his parents, postman Chris Gard and Connie Yates, of Bedfont, west London, who are both in their early 30s, want to be allowed to take him to a hospital in the US for a treatment trial.
Mr Justice Francis ruled with the “heaviest of hearts” that lifesupport treatment should stop after analysing evidence at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London and visiting Charlie in hospital.
Charlie, who was born on August 4, 2016, has a form of mitochondrial disease, a condition which causes progressive muscle weakness and brain damage.
His parents launched an appeal on the GoFundMe website two months ago, saying they needed £1.2m to fund the US treatment.
After hearing the decision, barrister Pravin Fernando told the judge that the couple wanted to challenge his ruling in the Court of Appeal.
Solicitor Laura Hobey-Hamsher, who works for law firm Bindmans, said outside court that the couple would have three weeks to launch a challenge.
She said: “Connie and Chris are devastated by today’s decision.”
She added: “They are struggling to understand why the court has not at least given Charlie the chance of treatment in America.”
Lawyers representing Great Ormond Street said treatment would continue until appeal decisions had been made. Giving his ruling, the judge said he had decided to grant applications by Great Ormond Street with a heavy heart and paid tribute to Charlie’s parents.
He said: “It is with the heaviest of hearts, but with complete conviction for Charlie’s best interests, that I find it is in Charlie’s best interests that I accede to these applications and rule that Great Ormond Street may lawfully withdraw all treatment save for palliative care to permit Charlie to die with dignity.
“I want to thank the team of experts and carers at Great Ormond Street and others who cannot be named, for the extraordinary care that they have provide to this family.”