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.

The supporters are shouting 'hospitals kill they do not heal' now in front of the courts, surrounded by young children.

If any of the previous sanctimonious posters come back and tell me that it's not relevant, yes it is, this is why.

This young woman is about to walk out of a court to go and spend her final hours with her baby son. Please people, recognise the pain.

Connie: Our poor boy has just been left to lie there for months without treatment
This will fuel the BA more than ever. I understand she must be in incredible pain, but these hugely emotive statements would be challenged in any other case. I feel extremely saddened that what I thought would be a dignified - if heartbreaking - statement now feels like a call to anger, refusal to support GOSH and - lest I am mistaken - a sure sign of litigious intent.
Poor, poor Charlie.

I can see that she is speaking with raw grief but I am worried what she has said will not help matters.

I think she has a right to say what she wants to say, my problems is what sort of furore this will whip up on SM.

*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*

^^ This.

@JoshuaRozenberg

Chris Gard stands behind Connie, sobbing quietly. Others sobbing with her as she says he won't see his first birthday.

@skyrobcatherall

"Mummy and Daddy love you so much Charlie, we always have, we always will"

This is the worst possible thing she could have done. It's going to whip fury up at her and Chris, and it's going to whip up fury at GOSH.

I just realized my post sounded harsh. It was meant to be one of understanding where she's coming from. Not one of blame.

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 appreciate that but what she is doing is hugely damaging to GOSH, and in turn that impacts on patient care; by causing families to doubt their own treatment unnecessarily, by perhaps reducing donations. Those words are not true and they will have real impact for real people.

@JoshuaRozenberg
Connie leaves witness box, sobbing.

Fox news will pick up on those statements and then president trump will link it to Obamacare.

Someone upthread mentioned crusade - good choice of word.

Don't understand why she has been able to take the stand. Someone with more knowl/exp please explain if this is normal?

Seems like we haven't heard the last of C&C.

Allowing someone in her position to address the court at a time like this is inappropriate. She and GOSH should both have been protected from that.

The supporters are shouting 'hospitals kill they do not heal' now in front of the courts, surrounded by young children.

I am absolutely lost for words. And really, really, really angry.

GOSH should have been able to respond. That was outrageous

@JoshuaRozenberg

Gard: hearing ends.

@skyrobcatherall

Armstrong stands again to thank judge, his voice cracking. Court rises

Her words are going to cause so much damage to GOSH. I do hope they have a right to reply.

This is just all so heartbreakingly sad.

This is another area where she's been poorly advised. Her lawyer should have " no Connie, you're not getting up there to speak today."

I don't know how she's stringing a sentence together, I'd be in a heap in the floor.

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

She is slandering a world leading hospital.

so gosh wernt even alow to respond thats dreaful

Letting Connie speak is a kindness. Yes, she is wrong in some of her facts. But the judge is giving her the dignity of chosing to withdraw their case and having the last word in court.

It might make little difference today but hopefully it will help Connie and Chris deal with their feeling about GOSH and the court at a later date.

I don't think GOSH responding would have done anything except further fuel the critics who would have looked for any reason to pull apart their statement.

I am very sad that this dignified example of British justice at its best over the last few months, with judge after judge showing compassion and sensitivity, has been dragged down into a mawkish rabble-rousing call to arms. She is a grieving mother, and she should have been protected from herself.