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Charlie Gard: parents' 'last wish' is for son to be able to die at home | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Charlie Gard’s parents have told the high court that their “last wish” for their son is that he should be allowed to die at home. | |
A day after Connie Yates and Chris Gard ended their opposition to the removal of their critically ill son’s life support system, they returned to court on Tuesday to ask that Great Ormond Street hospital’s objections to Charlie being allowed to go home be overruled. | |
Charlie is expected to be removed from his ventilator at the hospital in the next few days following his parents’ abandonment at an emotional high court hearing on Monday of their legal fight to be allowed to fly him to the US for experimental treatment. | |
But the often acrimonious five-month court battle with Gosh, where the baby is being treated, took another turn on Tuesday as the parties returned to court to decide where Charlie should spend his final moments. | But the often acrimonious five-month court battle with Gosh, where the baby is being treated, took another turn on Tuesday as the parties returned to court to decide where Charlie should spend his final moments. |
Grant Armstrong, representing the parents, said the case was returning to court for the “most difficult emotional part ... [the] circumstances in which Charlie’s passing will be conducted. The parents’ last wish is to take Charlie home. | Grant Armstrong, representing the parents, said the case was returning to court for the “most difficult emotional part ... [the] circumstances in which Charlie’s passing will be conducted. The parents’ last wish is to take Charlie home. |
“We struggle with the difficulties the hospital has placed in the way of the parents’ wish to have a period of time, probably a relatively short period of time ... before the final act in Charlie’s short life.” | “We struggle with the difficulties the hospital has placed in the way of the parents’ wish to have a period of time, probably a relatively short period of time ... before the final act in Charlie’s short life.” |
Katie Gollop QC, for the hospital, said the parents had, since Saturday, refused a number of offers of mediation over the issue “for reasons Great Ormond Street will never know”. | Katie Gollop QC, for the hospital, said the parents had, since Saturday, refused a number of offers of mediation over the issue “for reasons Great Ormond Street will never know”. |
She said Gosh was willing to fulfil their wishes “if it is practical, possible and safe, and in Charlie’s interests so that he comes to no harm”. | She said Gosh was willing to fulfil their wishes “if it is practical, possible and safe, and in Charlie’s interests so that he comes to no harm”. |
A written statement given to Mr Justice Francis on behalf of Great Ormond Street doctors said that finalising an end-of-life care plan was the “most delicate and difficult task”. The judge said the hospital had suggested a “hospice option”. | |
Connie Yates and Chris Gard desperately want him to go home to die, but Armstrong said the hospital had raised objections, “despite having said in April that there were no obstacles to Charlie being flown to the US”. | Connie Yates and Chris Gard desperately want him to go home to die, but Armstrong said the hospital had raised objections, “despite having said in April that there were no obstacles to Charlie being flown to the US”. |
Gollop said the previous willingness to let Charlie go to the US was based on him being accompanied by intensive care staff and the practicalities had not been finalised. She indicated that providing intensive care to Charlie outside a hospital setting was not simple. | Gollop said the previous willingness to let Charlie go to the US was based on him being accompanied by intensive care staff and the practicalities had not been finalised. She indicated that providing intensive care to Charlie outside a hospital setting was not simple. |
Armstrong said no Gosh staff had visited the Gard family home or the house of one of their relatives, which has been suggested as a place for Charlie to spend his final days. | Armstrong said no Gosh staff had visited the Gard family home or the house of one of their relatives, which has been suggested as a place for Charlie to spend his final days. |
Gosh’s position statement said the key obstacle was for Charlie to have invasive ventilation to force air into the baby’s lungs, which it believes can only be provided in a hospital setting. Gollop said Gosh had tried to identify a hospice that was willing to take Charlie, which she said had been difficult given the publicity surrounding the case. | Gosh’s position statement said the key obstacle was for Charlie to have invasive ventilation to force air into the baby’s lungs, which it believes can only be provided in a hospital setting. Gollop said Gosh had tried to identify a hospice that was willing to take Charlie, which she said had been difficult given the publicity surrounding the case. |
She said she received an email from a purported expert shortly before Tuesday’s hearing stating that it was possible for Charlie to spend his final days at home, but the expert had had no contact with staff treating Charlie. | She said she received an email from a purported expert shortly before Tuesday’s hearing stating that it was possible for Charlie to spend his final days at home, but the expert had had no contact with staff treating Charlie. |
Victoria Butler-Cole, the lawyer instructed by Charlie’s guardian, said the latest disagreement was “an example of what happens when there is such a fundamental breakdown in communications”. | Victoria Butler-Cole, the lawyer instructed by Charlie’s guardian, said the latest disagreement was “an example of what happens when there is such a fundamental breakdown in communications”. |
Describing it as “the most difficult, painful process for the parents”, Mr Justice Francis said he would rather the parties resolved the matter outside the courtroom, but added that he would reach a decision if necessary. | Describing it as “the most difficult, painful process for the parents”, Mr Justice Francis said he would rather the parties resolved the matter outside the courtroom, but added that he would reach a decision if necessary. |
At the hearing on Monday, Yates and Gard said muscle atrophy suffered by Charlie in recent months meant the proposed nucleoside bypass therapy no longer offered him the prospect of a meaningful life. | At the hearing on Monday, Yates and Gard said muscle atrophy suffered by Charlie in recent months meant the proposed nucleoside bypass therapy no longer offered him the prospect of a meaningful life. |
They asked for privacy in their “last precious moments” with their son. | They asked for privacy in their “last precious moments” with their son. |