Heartbreaking: Charlie Gard’s parents end their legal fight, as time ‘runs out’ for Charlie
In a final heart-wrenching twist, it appears that the battle to keep baby Charlie Gard alive has today come to an end. Today was the final day in a hearing that would appeal UK and European court decisions legally preventing Charlie’s parents from taking him to the United States for experimental treatment, which they believed could potentially save his life and improve his condition. However, in a stunning turn of events which has sent tremors across the world today, the lawyer representing Chris Gard and Connie Yates made the shock announcement that they were withdrawing their appeal instead.
Charlie was initially placed on life support after he became seriously ill. He was then diagnosed with an extremely rare RRM2B mitochondrial depletion syndrome. Following his diagnosis, his parents expressed their wishes to take him to the United States for an experimental nucleoside therapy treatment, which they believed could save his life. Indeed, this has been the case for other children in Charlie’s position. Setting up an online campaign and donations page, they succeeded in raising over $1.4 million for his treatment. However the hospital caring for Charlie — Great Ormond Street Hospital in London — disagreed that the therapy would be beneficial, and that Charlie should instead be taken off of life support. The controversial move from the London hospital sparked a months-long legal battle. During their tumultuous and broadly covered legal fight in court, Charlie’s devastated parents lost appeal after appeal. This disastrous legal battle continued raging day in day out until the European Court of Human Appeals ultimately ruled against the parents.
The case was to capture attention on a global scale. The world watched and waited as little Charlie kept on living. ‘If he’s fighting, then we’re fighting,’ his father Chris Gard would tell the press in defiant tones. Pope Francis released a statement in support of the parents as the Vatican hospital offered to take in Charlie for treatment, while US President Donald Trump offered to help Charlie as well. United States lawmakers went as far as to introduce a bill to make Charlie and his parents’ permanent U.S. citizens. However, the hospital and the courts initially held their own and refused point blank to allow Charlie to be treated elsewhere. Many likened Charlie to a captive being held prisoner by a profoundly anti-life Great Ormond Street. In a move which caused widespread anger an ensuing media frenzy, the hospital then refused to let his parents take him home to die. As the controversy continued to grow, Great Ormond Street Hospital eventually asked for a fresh court hearing where new evidence in the tragic case could be considered. Recently, an American doctor who said he was willing to help Charlie, Dr. Michio Hirano, travelled from the US to London to examine Charlie and to meet with specialists. Dr. Hirano, in a bright contrast to Great Ormond Street Hospital was optimistic that the nucleoside therapy could potentially help Charlie, saying that British doctors could indeed be wrong in their diagnosis. Instead, Dr. Hirano claimed, Charlie may be suffering from muscle weakness, and if this was the case, there was up to a 55 percent chance that the therapy could help him.
The decision from Charlie’s parents to withdraw their appeal to seek experimental treatment is shocking in light of the perceptible optimism from Dr. Hirano. However, today the family’s lawyer said it was rather an issue of time “running out” for 11-month old Charlie. He said that Charlie’s parents were “distressed” by the results of the latest tests, explaining, “For Charlie, it is too late, the damage has been done… it is no longer in Charlie’s best interests to pursue treatment.” They now instead wish to spend what little precious time Charlie has left with him as opposed to seeking the treatment. Charlie’s devastated parents, Chris Gard and Connie Yates are unequivocal in their denouncement of Great Ormond Street. They seem to be resounding in their blaming of the hospital for the turn of events which has taken place. Their lawyer came out and said that the prolonged delay in getting Charlie treatment has essentially robbed him of the opportunity to have the nucleoside therapy. “Dark days lie ahead for these parents,” Armstrong said. “The parents wish to treasure their remaining time with Charlie, however short that may be.”
His mother Connie Yates said today, “This is the hardest thing we’ve ever had to do. Following most recent MRI scan, we’ve decided to let our son go.” “He is not brain dead,” she continued. “A whole lot of time has been wasted. Charlie’s quality of life could have been improved greatly (by earlier treatment). But the delay in seeking treatment has brought Charlie to ‘the point of no return.’ Our poor boy has just been left to lie there for months without treatment… left with this illness to deteriorate to point of no return,” she said. “But no organ has failed. No proof he is in pain or suffering. The prospect of improvement now [is] too low. The deterioration in his muscles means there is no way back. Treatment is now not in Charlie’s best interests and we will let our little boy go.” As Charlie’s mother spoke, Chris Gard sobbed openly.
Connie Yates also argued that it was not too late to prevent such a tragedy from afflicting another family and took the chance to advocate for real and concrete change. “It’s not too late for others. We owe it to him [Charlie] to not let his life be in vain,” she said. “We thank Great Ormond Street Hospital. We love Charlie very much. Our son is a warrior. His legacy will never die. His spirit will live on for eternity. Mummy and Daddy love you so much, Charlie. We always have, we always will.”
It is not clear yet when Charlie will be taken off of life support but this is a truly tragic end for the Gard family. The heartbreak of the case intensifies sharply when one thinks of what could have been done for Charlie Gard had Great Ormond Street acted sooner.