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US residency for Charlie Gard to be proposed in Congress 'There's nothing to lose': Charlie Gard's mother pleads for US treatment
(about 4 hours later)
Charlie Gard should be given residency in the US so he can receive experimental treatment in the country, congressmen have said as the terminally ill baby’s parents prepare to launch a renewed legal bid for treatment. The mother of the critically ill baby Charlie Gard has called for permission to take him to the US for experimental treatment because “there’s nothing to lose”.
Republican representatives Brad Wenstrup and Trent Franks are expected to table a bill in the US House of Representatives on Monday to bring Charlie and his parents to the US. Charlie’s parents, Connie Yates and Chris Gard, spoke to supporters and members of the press at a rally on Sunday near Great Ormond Street hospital, where he is being treated.
The intervention comes as more than 350,000 people signed a petition urging the baby’s doctors to allow him to receive treatment abroad, and his family said the “fight is not over”. Gard said the hospital was fantastic and its doctors were specialists in a lot of conditions, but not Charlie’s. “The specialists are in America and that’s where we want to go,” Gard said.
“He should have had this chance a long time ago now. They said that it wasn’t fair to leave him on the ventilator for three months for a treatment they didn’t think was going to work. He’s now been left for seven months with no treatment.”
Acknowledging the treatment only had a 10% chance of working, Yates said it was worth trying anyway. “He’s our son, he’s our flesh and blood. We feel that it should be our right as parents to decide to give him a chance at life. There is nothing to lose, he deserves a chance.”
Thanking the public and the press for their support, she added: “Let’s get Charlie the treatment he deserves. If he is still fighting, we are still fighting.”
The couple spoke after two congressmen said Charlie should be given residency in the US so he can receive the treatment in the country. Gard and Yates are also preparing to launch a renewed legal bid for treatment.
The Republican congressmen Brad Wenstrup and Trent Franks are expected to table a bill in the US House of Representatives on Monday to bring Charlie and his parents to the US.
In a joint statement, the US politicians said: “Our bill will support Charlie’s parents’ right to choose what is best for their son, by making Charlie a lawful permanent resident in the US in order for him to receive treatments that could save his life.In a joint statement, the US politicians said: “Our bill will support Charlie’s parents’ right to choose what is best for their son, by making Charlie a lawful permanent resident in the US in order for him to receive treatments that could save his life.
“Should this little boy to be ordered to die because a third party, overriding the wishes of his parents, believes it can conclusively determine that immediate death is what is best for him?”“Should this little boy to be ordered to die because a third party, overriding the wishes of his parents, believes it can conclusively determine that immediate death is what is best for him?”
On Sunday, the justice secretary said it was right that the courts decide on what was in the 11th-month-old’s best interests, adding that the government had no role to play in the case. On Sunday, the justice secretary said it was right that the courts decide on what was in the 11-month-old’s best interests, adding that the government had no role to play in the case.
The lord chancellor, David Lidington, expressed sympathy with the judges involved in the “heartwrenching” case when asked on Sky News’ Ridge On Sunday whether it was right that judges could overrule the wishes of Charlie’s parents. The lord chancellor, David Lidington, expressed sympathy with the judges involved in the “heartwrenching” case when asked whether it was right that judges could overrule the wishes of Charlie’s parents.
Lidington said: “It is right that judges interpret the law, independently and dispassionately. As ministers and as a government we have no role to play in the Charlie Gard case, as would be the case in any other proceeding in court.” Lidington told on Sky News’ Ridge On Sunday: “It is right that judges interpret the law, independently and dispassionately. As ministers and as a government we have no role to play in the Charlie Gard case, as would be the case in any other proceeding in court.”
He added: “I do not envy the judges who are having to take decisions on this. It must be incredibly pressured – probably emotional, under the judicial professionalism, a really emotional, heartwrenching case for them to have to decide.He added: “I do not envy the judges who are having to take decisions on this. It must be incredibly pressured – probably emotional, under the judicial professionalism, a really emotional, heartwrenching case for them to have to decide.
“But they are independent, they know their duty is to decide the case on the basis of what they genuinely consider to be in the best interests of Charlie himself.” “But they are independent, they know their duty is to decide the case on the basis of what they genuinely consider to be in the best interests of Charlie himself.
Charlie’s parents, Connie Yates and Chris Gard, are expected to join supporters in a rally on Sunday near Great Ormond Street hospital where he is being treated. The petition, which asks the hospital to follow the wishes of Charlie’s parents, was handed to doctors during the protest before a fresh court battle over his treatment. It reads: “It is unacceptable that you have refused to follow the wishes of his parents and have instead decided to remove his life support, which will kill him.”
The petition, which asks the hospital to follow the wishes of Charlie’s parents, will be handed to doctors during the protest before a fresh court battle over his treatment. It reads: “It is unacceptable that you have refused to follow the wishes of his parents and have instead decided to remove his life support, which will kill him.”
The children’s hospital previously won an order to say his life support should be turned off in a case that went all the way to the European court of human rights. They said his condition, caused by a rare mitochondrial disease, was irreversible and that further treatment could cause him suffering.The children’s hospital previously won an order to say his life support should be turned off in a case that went all the way to the European court of human rights. They said his condition, caused by a rare mitochondrial disease, was irreversible and that further treatment could cause him suffering.
The degenerative genetic condition affects the cells responsible for energy production and respiration, leaving Charlie unable to move or breathe without a ventilator.The degenerative genetic condition affects the cells responsible for energy production and respiration, leaving Charlie unable to move or breathe without a ventilator.
On Friday, it was announced that the hospital had applied to the high court for a new hearing to decide whether Charlie should be given the experimental drug, as urged by doctors in the US and Rome.On Friday, it was announced that the hospital had applied to the high court for a new hearing to decide whether Charlie should be given the experimental drug, as urged by doctors in the US and Rome.
“Two international hospitals and their researchers have communicated to us as late as the last 24 hours that they have fresh evidence about their proposed experimental treatment,” the hospital said in a statement released on Friday.
“And we believe, in common with Charlie’s parents, it is right to explore this evidence.”
Under a high court ruling, the hospital is forbidden from allowing Charlie to be transferred for nucleoside therapy anywhere. It also calls for Charlie’s artificial ventilation to be withdrawn, and for him to receive palliative care only.Under a high court ruling, the hospital is forbidden from allowing Charlie to be transferred for nucleoside therapy anywhere. It also calls for Charlie’s artificial ventilation to be withdrawn, and for him to receive palliative care only.
The fresh court battle was welcomed by the family. Yates said on Friday: “We are quite happy with this outcome and we are hopeful and confident that Charlie may get his chance now.”The fresh court battle was welcomed by the family. Yates said on Friday: “We are quite happy with this outcome and we are hopeful and confident that Charlie may get his chance now.”
In a series of tweets on the family’s campaign Twitter account over the weekend, they thanked supporters for sharing the story of their 11-month-old son worldwide.
The baby’s plight has attracted international attention with the Pope expressing support for the parents and US president Donald Trump tweeting that the US would do anything it could to help.
The hospital, however, made it clear that its doctors’ views have not changed. In a statement, they say they have considered nucleoside therapy but believed it could cause Charlie more suffering.