To ask people to PLEASE not picket hospitals?

[SerfTerf]

Or consider any kind of direct action against a hospital because of decisions concerning any individual patient.

It's irresponsible.

[stopfuckingshoutingatme]

I am pleased I read the judgements thanks for posting them

[Quartz2208]

The judgments are terribly sad but damning about the parents you wonder if they have read them.

It's such a sad situation and you get from the judgments how hard the medical staff are finding keeping him alive knowing it's causing him discomfort and pain

[kalinkafoxtrot45]

I wish the CA grief vampires would remember it's not GOSH killing Charlie, it's the bloody awful genetic condition he has, and he'd have been long gone if it weren't for the hospital and its staff working round the clock to keep him alive.

[MusicForTheJiltedGeneration]

Thank you @MissHavishamsleftdaffodil - it was a truly horrendous time, so many invasive tests, biopsies, medical interventions and no answers for such a long time.

In the end the diagnosis was a pure accident based on a throwaway comment from my Dad in front of the Consultant. Turned out my Dad had the (undiagnosed) condition and I was a carrier. My Dad had known he was 'allergic' to certain things that made him very ill so had just avoided them over the years. He mentioned one of them during a conversation with the Consultant and the reaction was "ooooooohhhhhh - we need bloods from you, your daughter and grandson right now". Not many doctors can claim they diagnosed 3 generations on the same day!

Bearing this in mind I can fully understand the feeling of guilt that Charlie's parent must have felt knowing that they had passed on a condition to their child and the subsequent medical interventions. In my son's case the condition is easily managed and he is now a strapping 6 footer. Charlie on the other hand will never recover from his condition, it can never be managed, he would never live a life even approaching normal, or of any quality. I do wonder if this feeling of guilt ('it's my fault this has happened to him') has had an impact on their actions.

So very sad for everyone involved

[Dontlaugh]

I have been on this site for many many years and don't post lightly, as my many deletions through MN HQ will attest.
This case is tragic. No other word for it.
Charlie's Army is a distressing result of social media of individuals who maybe have a fleeting knowledge of the realities of ICU and the finality of a life limiting condition. I have read their posts and I do not share their sentiment nor their ire towards highly qualified and experienced HCPs, who in my experience always put my very ill child first and talked me through every step of his treatment. I do accept the relationship between GOSH and the parents is broken beyond repair - my experience of a similar situation is that the staff usually went beyond and above to explain and assist us through what is usually a well worn path of care and intervention. The non acceptance of the parents of their child's diagnosis and subsequent treatment path is something I can totally relate to and my entire heart goes out to them. I will say every consultant I met on our own journey was hell bent on making sure my son lived. I had accepted my son may die and had discussed end of life care with the staff. My baby's care and wellbeing were always first and foremost in all discussions. I didn't doubt the care he was being given, but nor was I under any illusion re his diagnosis.
Charlie Gard is unfortunately diagnosed with a terrible and life limiting condition. There is no cure. Nor any respite even. I had hoped for a better outcome when this case first made the headlines but it clear that nothing can help, based on what the US doctor has said when he realised just what exactly Charlie is diagnosed with and how far advanced his condition is.
I understand people calling for Charlie to die at home, I do truly. But the reality of moving and supporting a sick baby in ICU is that he would probably die in the ambulance. I've been in ICU and I wouldn't wish it on any parent. But I was glad he was there because he had 1 to 1 care, drugs and ventilation that we couldn't have offered at home.
To all those on both sides I offer , much good that they'll do.
There are no winners here.
The staff of all paediatric units anywhere will forever have my appreciation - without exception they put their patients first and the comfort and wellbeing of same.