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.

How is she being allowed to say this in court? Will GOSH ever have right of reply?

user accepted and acknowledged, but this is incredibly unnecessary, incorrect and will cause untold damage to the hospital and other unwell children and their parents.

Somebody should have advised her now wasn't a good time to speak. Things are way too raw for any rational thought to take place.

Legal people, if this statement has basis in fact are there grounds to sue GOSH?

oh my god no

If she sues GOSH I really hope that the Judge orders the family to pay GOSH's costs.

We've always listened to the experts.

No, you haven't.

Come on folks - get a grip. This poor woman has just agreed to allow her son to die - give her some space and time and kindness.

She is talking in pain and anger so I think we should give her some compassion.

i was going to ask can gosh rposnd to this statmnt

I can't believe she's been allowed to make these statements. Are there implications to making false statements like this in a courtroom; or is all that matters that she "believes" that he could have recovered and the hospital are responsible?

@skyrobcatherall

"We didn't keep him alive just because we couldn't bear to lose him"

It feels like the parents' way of coping with their grief is to be on a crusade.

First they wanted Charlie alive at all costs.
Now they want justice for his death.

I feel so sorry for GOSH.

Just seen the latest tweets from JR. Oh dear.

I guess as a distraught mother she must be able to put the blame away from herself and Chris. But it does show that she has no level of understanding/accepting the reality of what Charlie's future would have been, even with treatment.

@JoshuaRozenberg

Connie: no winners here. It's not too late for other. We owe it tho him to not let his life be in vain. We'd like to thank our lawyers.

maybe scales fell from their eyes..I retract that comment...spoke too soon.
Clearly they feel the treatment would haveworked by the current statements...Are GOSH and Hirano allowed to speak?

wv always listnd to exprts? they rfus to talk to anyone!

This is just dreadful

Of course she is going to blame GOSH and anyone she can think of - she is about to loose her only child! At the moment she is entitled to say whatever she wants.

I think the decision to let him go is the correct one but my sympathies are with the family.

@skyrobcatherall

Connie Yates' voice cracking as she thanks their legal team, husband stands behind her sobbing, wiping tears. Relatives cry at back of court

Nellie No one blames her for thinking it.
But she shouldn't be allowed to say it in court, she's causing so much damage to GOSH and therefore other sick children.

She has no right to say that GOSH stood there and let her son die. No right at all.

I feel terribly sorry for the parents, but reading CY's statement, it's the same as before. She still fails to fully understand the medical evidence about her son's condition. She is still clinging onto the idea that there was ever a chance. There wasn't. And that's shit and awful and tragic, but it's not anyone's fault. Treatment was never viable and would not have improved his quality of life. They (understandably) didn't want to accept that. I feel so very sorry for them, because I don't think they'll ever really understand it or come to terms with it. And it will make what happens now even harder.

@JoshuaRozenberg

Connie: we thank GOSH. We love Charlie very much. Our son is a warrior. His legally will never die.

I feel so sorry for her thpugh

@JoshuaRozenberg

Connie: his spirit will live on for eternity.

@skyrobcatherall

"No one can deny the impact our beautiful son has had on the world"