Charlie Gard 15

[cjt110]

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

Timeline so far

August 4, 2016 Charlie born 8lb 3oz to Connie Yates and Chris Gard.

October 2016 Tests reveal mitochondrial depletion syndrome.
Believed to be only 16th sufferer in the world of rare strain.

Autumn 2016 Miss Yates finds specialist in US testing nucleoside therapy, but it has never been tried on Charlie’s rare type.

January Gosh doctors say drug would be futile because of irreversible brain damage. Parents contact US doctor.

March Gosh asks High Court to let Charlie die. Mr Justice Francis gives parents a month to make case for treatment. Daily Mail readers help raise £197,000 in days to help fly Charlie to US.

April Doctors say he is likely to be in pain. Judge rules Gosh should let him die.

May Court of Appeal upholds ruling. Parents appeal to Supreme Court.

June Supreme Court rejects appeal. On June 27, European judges back decision. Gosh gives parents more time with Charlie. Pope Francis intervenes, followed by Donald Trump on July 3.

July 7 Seven scientists hand Gosh fresh evidence showing higher survival chances.

July 10 Mr Justice Francis gives parents 48 hours to produce new evidence in case.

July 13 US specialist Dr Michio Hirano invited to London by High Court

July 17 Dr Hirano examines Charlie.

July 21 Court told scan results ‘very sad’.

Today, 24 July, High Court due to rule on the case, ten days before Charlie’s birthday.

Allowing this to drag on will do the poor family no good at all.

Now they need to focus on being able to grieve. They don't need legal people and charlies army further stirring up the emotions

LIVE: Judge considers Charlie Gard's future
Live updates from the High Court as a judge decides whether the terminally ill child should be treated by a specialist in the US.
13:34, UK,
Monday 24 July 2017
The parents of Charlie Gard have lost their appeal against a ruling which would allow doctors to withdraw life-support treatment.
Image:
Great Ormond Street Hospital says Charlie's life support treatment should stop

@skyrobcatherall
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Requests permission for Connie Yates to make statement at the end of the hearing
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@JoshuaRozenberg
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Connie Yates wants to address judge at the end of the hearing.
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@skyrobcatherall
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Armstrong - Dark days lie ahead for these parents. Wish to treasure their remaining time with Charlie, however short.
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@JoshuaRozenberg
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Armstrong: parents wish to treasure time with Charlie.
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@JoshuaRozenberg
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Gard: Armstrong is nearing end of his submissions. Great sadness in this crowded courtroom reflected in counsel's voice, briefly cracking.
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@skyrobcatherall
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Parents wish to thanks the thousands who have donated and the millions of people who have signed the petition
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@skyrobcatherall
2m
Armstrong - Parents do not support or condone any threats of violence.
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@JoshuaRozenberg
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Armstrong: with mitochondrial disease earliest possible treatment should take place.
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@skyrobcatherall
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Armstrong inviting the judge to think about whether parents' power should be increased in such cases
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@JoshuaRozenberg
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Armstrong: parents want to establish foundation for others.

Their call for increasing parent power part is very worrying- that would have very much wider implications beyond this case or other very sad medical cases.

Connie wants to address the judge at the end of the hearing.

I think that should be kept private, too.

Supporters are now shouting 'shame on GOSH' outside the court.

LapinR0se, that is good, now the group needs deleting.

How utterly devastating for all involved - there are no winners here.

Connie wants to make a statement.

I know it's moved on but I've just had a sob in public reading the feed. Such a hard decision to make, I'm so relieved they've done it. Those poor parents, I hope the twats outside have gone by the time C & C leave court, or they can go out a back door.
Agree that it doesn't sound like it'll be over anytime soon though

KGs on, hopefully can set record straight re: window of opportunity'?

I think it is quite disgraceful using the expression "window of opportunity". There wasn't one. The window was never opened.

I just wish they'd listened to the medical experts weeks, months ago, and accepted what they were being told then, rather than waiting until now to accept it, bearing in mind what they've put themselves through, GOSH through and, most of all, possibly put Charlie through.

I actually think the judge will make it very clear - that GOSH have not been negligent, but I agree MissHaversham - Armstrong is looking at suing GOSH

There's that "Parents do not support or condone any threats of violence" statement again.

Outright condemn it, otherwise it's just passive.

"Connie Yates wants to address judge at the end of the hearing."

Oh God. I hope she is OK and can do it without damaging herself or burning any bridges that she may need in future.

They are still blaming GOSH aren't they?

I'm a bit cross about that. I feel GOSH would have done anything appropriate and beneficial if they could. The experimental treatment still is and was always untested, and could possibly cause side effects whilst having no real benefit in Charlie's case.

I hope none of you mind but I will now step away from re-tweeting the reports. I find it a little disrespectful in light of the decision he parents have come to make.

You can follow the live Tweets from court here

Armstrong: with mitochondrial disease earliest possible treatment should take place.

Armstrong is nearing end of his submissions. Great sadness in this crowded courtroom reflected in counsel's voice, briefly cracking.

Armstrong: parents wish to treasure time with Charlie.

Connie Yates wants to address judge at the end of the hearing.

Don't understand why Armstrong is asking that - it's just for show and he knows it. It's not dorntge judge to extend ans existing law but to interpret existing law and apply it

But: c ane c will understandably want to say their piece today via Armstrong. If it led to this agreement, then its relatively harmless posturing

its not corrct though lapin its slandr

Oh Gosh, Connie wants to address the Judge...........

Could they really sue GOSH? By withdrawing their case they're effectively conceding the hospital's standpoint that treatment isn't viable and I'm not sure they can claim a window of opportunity has been missed when three courts backed the hospital all along. Regardless, my heart goes out to them now. They must be shattered. I hope they are given the peace they need to grieve.

Gollop is being slightly adversarial still, I assume in light of these latent accusations of delaying treatment being at fault

Increased parent power? 😬

Why do they need someone to blame, though? It's not a fault-finding mission. I wonder if GOSH will be given another chance to speak if Connie does get to speak at the end as she has requested.

So GOSH were correct all along. What a pity, and what a waste of time, money and emotional energy.