After weeks of deliberation, judges at the European Court of Human Rights have officially rejected the motion for 10-month-old Charlie Gard to be moved to the U.S. for experimental treatment.
As Faithit previously reported, Charlie was born healthy in August 2016, but two months after birth was diagnosed with a terminal condition called mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome. Only 16 people have ever been known to have the disorder, which causes rapid weakening of muscles and brain damage—making treatment nearly impossible.
But not completely.
Connie Yates
Charlie’s parents, Chris Gard and Connie Yates of Bedfont, west London, have raised over $1.6 million to bring their son to America for experimental treatment with a team of doctors who believe they might be able to give Charlie a second chance at life.
But specialists at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London—where Charlie is being cared for—believe Charlie has no chance of survival, and that he should be able to “die with dignity.”
Connie Yates
They were so strongly against the experimental treatment in the U.S. that they took Chris and Connie to Court, where judges ruled in favor of the doctors, setting a time-limit on sweet Charlie’s precious little life.
Judges granted permission on April 11 for doctors to discontinue Charlie’s life support as of midnight on May 30. Just before the clock struck 12, Chris and Connie learned the Court of Appeals were to consider the case—extending Charlie’s time a little longer.
Connie Yates
The baby boy has been given a total of three shut-off dates up until this point—with the final extension coming on Father’s Day as the European Court of Human Rights required more time to analyze Charlie’s case.
They had given him a three-week extension on June 18, but came to a decision on June 27 concluding that further treatment would “continue to cause Charlie significant harm.” They also lifted the interim measure which had required doctors to continue providing life support to Charlie for three weeks, or the duration of deliberations.