Charlie Gard 14

[GabsAlot]

This is a thread following the legal and ethical questions raised by the recent court case involving Charlie Gard.

Please could we refrain from insulting or otherwise "bashing" his parents. It isn't in the spirit of Mumsnet and will get the threads removed.

Please could we also remember that at the heart of this case is a terminally ill baby and his heartbroken parents. There are those participating in and watching this thread for whom these issues are painful. Please let's try and be mindful of them when we post. This isn't a place for name calling or trivialising the very real pain they feel. Many parents of severely disabled children are on here.

Lastly, here are some hopefully useful reference points of facts surrounding the case.

13 July GOSH position statement on latest hearing (includes update on Charlie's condition):
www.gosh.nhs.uk/file/23611/download?token=aTPZchww

7 July GOSH statement on Charlie:
www.gosh.nhs.uk/news/latest-press-releases/latest-statement-charlie-gard

June 2017 Supreme Court decision:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6rPmvGlNhA&app=desktop

May 2017 Court of Appeal Decision:
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2017/410.html

April 2017 High Court Decision:
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2017/972.html

GOSH FAQ page on Charlie:
www.gosh.nhs.uk/frequently-asked-questions-about-charlie-gard-court-case

"Part of me actually wants Charlie to be allowed the treatment so that when he does pass away C&C may be able to find some comfort that everything that could have been done to try and save his life was."

The trouble is that there's no guarantee that that would actually bring them any comfort. I know (at one remove) a family who took an infant with a rare condition to the US for pioneering treatment. The child did not survive the treatment. I understand that the child's chances of survival beyond infancy were effectively nil anyway but, far from feeling better because they'd tried everything, the family fell apart, especially the family member who'd originally googled the US hospital. Sometimes there's just a choice of regrets ( "could we have done more?" vs "did we deprive him/her of a more peaceful death?" ).

I think perhaps tonight they are seeing that the public are now seeing another side to this tragic story.......... and that they are in very real danger of losing public support. It's just awful beyond words

Hi again everyone. We've had to remove several parent-blaming posts, posts which are personal attacks, and also posts that are speculating on legal issues, so we'd like to ask folk not to do this. We think we can all agree that this is a truly awful time for all involved and we wouldn't wish it on anyone. If there's anything we could do with more of, it's support and empathy from others.

We'll continue to remove reported posts that break Talk Guidelines (and please do report anything to us we should look at).

If we have to make too many deletions, we will need to look at removing the thread; we don't want to do that as we can see most posters are trying hard to be respectful and keep within the guidelines.

Thanks all.

That post was probably penned by their legal team.

But weren't they pictured outside court with the UKIP guy reading a statement on their behalf?

So UKIP guy used to be their spokesperson but isn't now?

Urgh that UKIP guy was apparently hassling other patients parents to sign petitions. How disgusting.

sorry thats damag limitiation

whywould he just mak up that he speaks for thm

he was ok to speak last week

Not mumsnet one sorry!

If Chris Gard is being straightforward then how could Alastair SM have spoken 'for' the parents on several occasions with them standing next to him and what exactly is in it for him? I guess it must be the case that they were ok with him at first but that he's now off on a frolic of his own - but why? I'm obviously being stupid but the situation amazes me, with all these weirdos out for gains of their own.

What does he mean the Kipper has never spoken for them? Here's photographic proof!

I agree with others that a gag order should be imposed. BUT I think that order would apply only to participants (GOSH, the Gard/Yates families, and the press. I don't think it would stop randomers on FB. People are still allowed to 'talk' to each other even if the court gags the people involved.

They can talk to each other, but they can't publish names and places that the judge has said may not be published. Or if they do, they'll find themselves in trouble.

And if the child and the hospital may not be identified, there'll be no images of the child circulated online, and no direct threats to the hospital. It would be much more difficult to whip up this kind of protest if it's all anonymous. And the mainstream media is much less likely to take it up if they can't have the parents on breakfast TV or film them arriving at court, and so on.

Yes Deux, he was their official spokesman previously.

Hello new thread. Been out tonight and had a few wines. Will read things properly tomorrow.

Thanks for the Sun link Maryz. Confirmed it's the UKIPper bandwagon-jumper

Today Alasdair Seton-Marsden, a spokesman for the Gard family, told Sky News the hospital’s death threat claims is “arguably a cynical ploy”.

So now we cannot talk about legal things? We have tales about court case since thread one?

I read a blog post last night by a mum who's child was very sick on intensive care and very sadly, when it was clear she wasn't going to get better the family and the medical team agreed that they should withdraw ventilation and let the child pass away peacefully.

The comments made by Charlie's army et al have made this bereaved mum question if she did the right thing, if she was a bad mum, if she should have fought harder for her child. Rationally she knows she did the right thing for her little one.

A friend of mine has a little girl with autism and various physical problems. They have an appointment in GOSH soon and she is so worried that she's going to have to run the gauntlet of protesters at an already stressful time with a child who will really struggle to cope with this.

its not fucking fair that this insanity is affecting sick kids and bereaved parents like this

And the thread's moved on!

Maybe they are trying to distant themselves from certain 'supporters' That is a good thing surely.

It seemed a level headed reply from COG and kudos to him for writing it.

Just like the Featureworld lady was their spokesperson then wasn't, then it was the Pastor, then he wasn't, then the Kipper. I feel they are vulnerable and naive to be letting these people in.

So that UKIP guy was NOT the family's spokesperson? I wonder why they said nothing all this while when he was coming out and giving statements to media.
It's all such a mess now! Instead of focusing on the child in the centre of it CA's GOSH bashing is finally being recognised. Someone on that GOSH thread have started using 'GOSH supporters' or 'GOSH's army'. Can't we support both Charlie & GOSH?

I have always thought Chris Gard was the sensible one of the family & that was a very decent post from him- Considering how difficult everything is for them he has really taken time to think & write.