Charlie Gard case

[LovelyBath77]

AIBU to feel the drama over this poor little boy is not helpful? I read the Pope and Donald Trump were suggesting they help- when several courts have agreed it is in his best interests to let the little boy die with dignity. I feel sorry for him as he may be in pain and it is unfair to add further to false hope for the parents as well. I also feel that many, many people has awful situations where babies die, sadly, for example stillbirths and other cases which are just un-heard and un-noticed and people have to deal with it, so why is there such a huge focus here.

Reading between the lines of that, I'd say that GOSH are very rightly bouncing it to the High Court to decide if these so called treatments are an option, and if not, then I would imagine the court rather than GOSH will decide on a time for withdrawal of life support. I can't see what choice they have given the parents obstructive refusal to accept any of this. I do hope now for Charlie this means an end to the end, and hopefully no time wasting appeals etc.

It really is no wonder the parents have no faith in the system.

The parents' snake-oil nonsense is what has caused this. Going back to court is a very measured move by GOSH to get the new medical miracle claims properly assessed by a judge.

If he was your child and you knew that there was some medicine that could help him- but people wanted him to die, would you let them die or do everything in you power to try this treatment?

Oh, that poor boy. Everybody is failing him and GOSH have been forced into extending his suffering because of the media storm.

My opinion is that GOSH will have received legal advice for these new claims to be examined by the High Court so that there is no possibility of them having seen not to pursue every possible avenue for Charlie.

Whether they think the treatment would have a beneficial effect or not it makes sense to have that independently discussed and judged.

I think the crux is based on the ability of the treatment to cross the blood/brain barrier, but again that doesn't resolve the issue of existing brain damage - which his parents insist is not as profound as the doctors believe. My guess is this is the fundamental issue the court will have to consider.

There's gonna be another court case

Ffs

GOSH is having to do this to avoid a massive PR disaster.

I'm actually beginning to get really cross with poor Charlie's parents now. How many hours of time and how much NHS money is being spent because of their refusal to accept facts? I'm not talking about 'bed-blocking' either, I mean the hours of discussions, the legal advice, the PR consultants, the sheer energy that one sick child's predicament is consuming.

maybe just maybe they are thinking ok let them give the treatment see how long it lasts,

No, they're thinking that the new claims for yet another treatment are equally baseless and futile and have decided to seek the Court's updated decision, which they expect to remain unchanged.

If he was your child and you knew that there was some medicine that could help him- but people wanted him to die, would you let them die or do everything in you power to try this treatment?

The medicine won't help him. His body is failing.

Good call on the part of GOSH. Hopefully this will sort the issue finally. But let's hope that if the decision doesn't go their way the parents don't appeal three times again.

It does clearly say on the GOSH statement that "our view on this has not changed". They've been forced into this, and shame on Charlie's parents for it. If they don't that money over to GOSH there should be a public enquiry into it . This must be costing millions.

Oh, that poor boy. Everybody is failing him and GOSH have been forced into extending his suffering because of the media storm.

I don't think GOSH or the Courts are failing him. The delays are cruel, but not of their making and the media hoo-ha in undignified but, fundamentally, the system is working in that it's offering the full protection of the law to one of our tiniest citizens who is utterly defenceless.

GOSH is having to do this to avoid a massive PR disaster.

Yep. How fucking awful that doctors and nurses are being forced against their "do no harm" oath because of a mob of people too thick to understand the facts.

SerfTerf Well, I was trying not to say his parents are failing him because they're suffering too... but frankly, it's what I meant.

let's hope that if the decision doesn't go their way the parents don't appeal three times again

If only ...

@Imer

The word "help" is what's critical here.

Helping Charlie and treating him are not the same thing based on the available information.

Sadly sometimes the best help a parent can give to their child is to work with doctors to allow them to die as peacefully as possible.

Nobody wants Charlie to die. He is going to though. That is tragic on every level, but no one is helped by that sort of rhetoric.

I think GOSH are doing the right thing.
Let's hope the court hearing is soon. And if this one doesn't go the parents' way, I would think they will have the right of appeal again.

Can I ask a sensitive question?

Even as a non-medical bod I can see from the way Charlie looks that his body is giving up.

If you keep someone on life support when their organs are failing, what happens? Do they die anyway beyond air being forced into their lungs? Or do they keep on goung indefinitely. I'm sorry if that's a horrible question. I can't be the only one hoping Charlie will pass away peacefully of his own accord so no-one has to go through the trauma of switching off the life support wjen the parents are so against it.

From the statement
'Our priority has always been, and will always be, the best interests of Charlie Gard.'

I believe this is what GOSH are trying to do. They are trying to do their best for this very poorly baby. If there was a miracle cure they'd be exploring it.

I'd love to know how much NHS money has been spent on this legal battle. It'd be a nice gesture if the remaining GOFUNDME money was donated to GOSH to help pay for it but I doubt it will be. Ultimately it'll be other children and families who will miss out.

StiffyByng Just to say I've donated to the Lily Foundation, on the basis that Lily's parents took some very, very tough decisions during her eight months, but always with their daughter's quality of life foremost in their minds. They have now gone on to work positively to raise awareness and increase research into mitochondrial diseases, which is a wonderful legacy for their daughter.
Very sorry to hear about your nephews.

I don't think it's GOSH wanting to try the treatment or that they are remotely convinced by the new evidence. I think they are just covering themselves. And then I think if they get the answer to withdraw treatment they will be doing it right away. As it seems any delay would enable new evidence to be found etc.

GOSH seen to be assessing everything, aka doing the right thing to protect themselves.

Parents who think their child isn't in pain and can be a "normal boy" one day.

This a baby and people are arguing over him. Why hasn't anyone made the parents understand and believe he says in pain and is not going to get well?

Why is a hospitals image even relevant.

These are just my thoughts.

dust their lungs can start to leak air, their other organs could give up, they might not be able to maintain oxygen levels despite a lot of support. So yes you can die on a ventilator. Usually though these signs would start and it would then be decided to stop treatment. I don't think they'd accept any of these signs though.

ancientandmodern that's great to know, thank you.