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 feel sorry for her, but her final statement has done SO MUCH DAMAGE

I have compassion for her. She's living a nightmare. Still true that her speech is damaging and will be damaging for other seriously ill children.

All their so called 'supporters' will take this and run with it.

I think the real issue is whether she should be allowed to address the court at all.

There is a move in the court system towards more public ownership - i.e. allowing victims of crime to address the court during sentencing. I am not a family practitioner, but I expect there is a similar sentiment there - allowing the public to contribute to proceedings, rather than keeping them out.

The sentiment is correct, but at times like this, I wonder at the wisdom of it.

She is slandering a world leading hospital.

^^this

No right of reply for GOSH. I hope their revised position statement gets appropriate air time.

Trump is going to tweet and permanently damage GOSH worldwide reputation.

Feelings are not facts. A court should only deal with facts. A sad case, but objectivity is essential.

I can see that she is speaking with raw grief but I am worried what she has said will not help matters
^^ this. I felt it. She's broken and she believes it. But I worry for how this will play out and that it will be seen as a call to arms

Her lawyer shouldn't have allowed her to speak. Not today.

My heart goes out to all of them.

Poor poor Connie, she has it so wrong. Blinded by grief, as they have been for the entirety of the legal process. At least they have finally make the right decision for Charlie.

Thoughts are with Charlie and that he will finally get to be at peace.

And hoping, whatever their downfalls, however much I and others disagree with their stance and how they have handled the situation that they have a lot of love around them at this time.

Whatever has come before these are now Just very sad parents losing their child.

The main issue now is that the court has only established that Charlie cannot have treatment due to the muscular atrophy.

Therefore, presumably we'll never officially establish that the treatment would not have worked anyway, even without the muscular atrophy.

This leaves GOSH open to criticism and blame as the parents can continue to say that the treatment may have worked if there had been no muscular atrophy and things had happened sooner.

If anything, this ending is worse than the judge coming to a decision himself. The parents will never get closure. They will always think they could have saved their son, if it had been sonner, if this or that had happened...

It's so sad. I feel terribly sorry the parents and they were brave to do what they did in court today. But I feel that this far from over and that the aftermath, the blaming of Great Ormond Street, etc... will continue for a long term.

The media circus will be propelled on by the belief that GOSH has killed Charlie Gard. It will now be about justice, and alas all the protesting, etc... and the fight for incriminating GOSH will start. And that's a scary prospect.

Its not a bun fight. As his mother, she has had the last say in the case. It would only have added fuel to the fire by everyone putting their two pennies worth in.

I just hope that the media will leave them alone now to make the decisions they need to make and be with Charlie as he is freed from the life in privacy and dignity.

Admin of the CA page has shut down every thread on it and no more have been added since the announcement. Sensible decision. Can you imagine the posts there would be

Any child whose treatment is delayed by their parents because of those sentiments, any funding fall that means a child doesn't get the treatment they need........,well, I hope people who think it was appropriate can live with that.

I thought the Judge would do some sort of summing up

Oh no. I just... oh no...
Connie, love....
😨

Yes I didn't think Connie would get the last word tbh

Surgeries have already been delayed in GOSH because of this mess

I don't think a lot of people will be interested in their position statement sadly.

It won't be as dramatic as a grieving mother sobbing in court.

Does anyone know if the Gard family will be able to leave the building privately or will they have to run the gantlet of 'supporters' out front?

Once again, may I thank all that have participated for their sensible, thought provoking comments. I think we have all discussed this matter amicably and as adults in such an emotive subject.

That should not have been allowed by the judge to happen within the court room as part of the hearing with GOSH having no opportunity to respond.

On the steps of the court to the media of course they can say whatever they want, but that was a court supported slamming of GOSH.

She is a grieving mother, and she should have been protected from herself

This.