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.

I do feel the reaction and negative press from this case is a strong argument for closed justice...

I don't think it's good for the parents to still feel that GOSH is to blame, I think it will deepen their grief and anger, I was so hoping that an agreement had been reached together.

I don't think this is over at all. They have accepted that Charlie can't be saved but the language being used by the barrister makes me strongly suggest that GOSH will be subject to a medical negligence kind of claim.

Those who were watching the protest live, have they now stopped singing and screaming?

lapin, agree, Armstrong is implying that it is the muscular atrophy that is the reason for proposed experimental treatment being pointless...but I thought Hirano said at beginning of year that Charlie's brain damage made him [Charlie] unsuitable for 'treatment'?
Hope they will show that Charlie was unsuitable months ago..More litigation might bring yet more distress to the family.

Many months too late but at long last the parents have done the right thing for their son.
The sooner he is allowed too rest the better

The judge is being very kind

GOSH can not have done anymore. The correct legal process was followed. I just hope more NHS funds aren't wasted on further litigation.

Someone will push them into a negligence claim and this will keep on rolling on

Terribly sad, I hope ca has removed itself from the courthouse now.
Connies sister was in the live video, surely to god she would have known what happened on Friday & not to rock up with the banners etc???

I hope the judge now makes plain that gosh hasn't 'murdered' him by not allowing treatment soon enough

If closed Justice is brought in after this then people accused of sexual offences will have to not be named then until convitcion.

GinSoakedTwitchyPony, no, they are shouting 'shame on GOSH' now.

Thanks for he thread all. Removing myself now.

I don't see how they can have any grounds for a medical negligence claim. The courts have praised how GOsH have handled this every step of the way and they where looking into this treatment themselves before his condition deteriorated. Sadly the deterioration meant it wasn't suitable. That's not the fault of anyone.

I do feel the reaction and negative press from this case is a strong argument for closed justice…

Not me, despite all of this I think it's important that there is still tranparency in most parts of the justice system PLUS the right to protest

I think we need more critical thinking in the national curriculum though..

I assume that the parents have only believed this now from the scans and tests held in the last week.

My understanding is that they wouldn't allow these previously for whatever reasons.

Is that correct?

It is heartbreaking for them but I just really hope they are able to find peace with all this in some way

Poor Connie and Chris. I can't imagine how painful making that decision was. I hope they have a peaceful time to say goodbye to their little boy without the weight of social media on their shoulders. Bless the three of them.

Gosh and Charlie's guardian will be issuing new position statements

Guys I think we should ask Mumsnet too close the thread now.

cjt110 thank you for posting the tweets - it cannot have been easy

Rob Catherall's tweets are more explicit

Armstrong - "For Charlie it is too late the damage has been done... it is no longer in Charlie's best interests to pursue treatment ...

Armstrong - They (the parents) believe they ought to have been trusted with the decision based on the best scientific rationale

Armstrong - Charlie has waited patiently for his right to receive treatment - due to the delay that chance has been lost

I am hoping that Francis J is now about to squash the litigation threat, carefully and compassionately.

I can't see from the tweets that Gallop is being adversarial at all. Agree that the judge is being very kind and sensitive.

I've been reading since thread 6 or 7, but didn't have anything new to add. I started reading mainly because I was interested in the legal side, and I've learnt a lot, but it's been so emotional. As has been mentioned before, there are no winners in this case, and it's so desperately sad. I hope C&C feel that they have done everything they possibly could for their darling son, and feel some closure. I think they have made the right decision. Hopefully they can spend some calm time with Charlie, and he will be at peace soon.

Angry grieving people often need someone to blame. And I think there ARE people to blame in this case.

• The American right, DJT, the evangelists that have hooked onto this case with their beady little claws
• A group of hysterics in the UK that have stirred things up and helped the family not one iota
• The legal team that should have tried to temper the family a long time before this.
• The US expert whose vague woolly contributions and treatment-for-cash US perspective facilitated the ongoing futile hope the parents had.

Unfortunately, it looks as though they've fixated on the institution that supported their son and his family for the past number of months.

Disappointing. But not unpredictable.