European Human Rights Court has given its verdict on a case of human rights that will compel a couple to allow their sick baby to die.
The
parents of the baby Chris Gard and Connie Yates have been in a long
legal battle to save their baby who is suffering from a serious genetic
illness. The baby is currently on life support while treatment options
were being considered.
At 8 weeks old, Charlie was diagnosed with
mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome and is considered to be only one of
16 babies worldwide with this disease. His condition is progressive and
currently incurable and eventually fatal.
Meanwhile, doctors are
developing treatments for the various mitochondrial conditions,
including the nucleoside treatment Charlie’s parents have been fighting
for. Charlie’s parents prayed the court to determine if they, as
parents, have the right to continue to provide medical treatments for
their son or if he should be allowed to die.
10-month-old Charlie Gard (pictured) suffers from a rare genetic condition and has brain damage
The
parents of the 10-months old baby wants the court to let them use a
potentially life-saving drug from the U.S. on their son. They believed
that the drug (which is still experimental), would help their son’s
genetic condition rather than allow him to die as doctors have
recommended.
However
a June 27 ruling of the court held that the application by the parents
was ‘inadmissible’. The court said that the baby was being exposed to
continued pain, suffering and distress in pursuit of treatments that
were unsure. It added that any additional treatment would continue to
cause harm to the baby stressing that its ruling is “Final”.
Chris
Gard and Connie Yates, from Bedfont, west London, have been battling to
save their son since he was diagnosed with a rare condition in
September 2016
“The EHRC also removed the interim measure to keep Charlie’s life support in place.
A
spokesman for Great Ormond Street Hospital, where Charlie has been
treated since October, has told the parents that there is “no rush” to
remove Charlie’s life support. The spokesman said that any future
treatment will involve careful planning and discussion.”
The
hospital has said that though there is a deadline in place for Charlie,
they wouldn’t have to follow it exactly. The discussion and planning
will take some days to work out. Meanwhile, Charlie’s parents have so
far raised over £1.3 million through a GoFundMe account for his
treatment.
With the ruling of the court, the parents are unsure
what they want to do with the money. They plan to donate some to the
U.S. hospital willing to treat Charlie, while the rest will be put into a
charity for other children with similar mitochondrial conditions
“so
that nobody else ever has to go through what we have.” She said, “We’d
like to save other babies and children because these medications have
been proven to work and we honestly have so much belief in them.”
