Parents Admit ‘Time Has Run out’ for Charlie Gard
The parents of 11-month-old Charlie Gard have admitted defeat.
After the parents battled Britain’s medical and legal establishment for months to bring their infant son to the U.S. for potentially life-saving treatment, a lawyer for Chris Gard and Connie Yates told London’s High Court Monday that they would no longer seek to have the terminally ill infant brought to the U.S. because the treatment can no longer help him.
The lawyer representing Charlie Gard's parents told London's High Court that time had "run out" for the child pic.twitter.com/hs4EKLbjGi
— Sky News (@SkyNews) July 24, 2017
“It is no longer in Charlie’s best interests to pursue this course of treatment,” attorney Grant Armstrong told Judge Nicholas Francis.
“Poor Charlie. It is too late. The damage has been done. Sadly time has run out,” the lawyer said. “Sadly the window of opportunity no longer exists. The parents have taken an extremely hard decision.”
#CharlieGard’s parents are ending their fight to save his life—saying it’s now too late for experimental treatment. https://t.co/eZ7z0Dzted pic.twitter.com/JOD3Vvwf2u
— The Daily Signal (@DailySignal) July 24, 2017
Charlie has a rare genetic condition called mitochondrial depletion syndrome, which causes progressive muscle weakness and brain damage. He is being kept alive on life support.
Armstrong said that an American neurologist, Dr. Michio Hiranoh, who had come to Britain to examine the infant last week and held out the hope of an experimental therapy, withdrew that offer after seeing a new MRI.
“Charlie has suffered extensive muscular atrophy,” Armstrong said in court. “This is irreversible even with (nucleoside therapy). Chance of improvement can’t now be delivered.”
“The parents’ worst nightmare have been confirmed,” he added.
The parents of #CharlieGard are ending their fight to keep him alive.
The little one will now be allowed to go peacefully.
Bless his heart.— Helen; (@helen_a15) July 24, 2017
He said Charlie’s parents agreed that more efforts to save their son would cause him pain. The case was “worthy of a Greek tragedy,” Armstrong said.
“Dark days lie ahead for these parents,” he added. “The parents wish to treasure their remaining time with Charlie, however short that may be.”
Gard and Yates plan to establish a foundation so that Charlie’s voice “continues to be heard,” Armstrong said. (For more from the author of “Parents Admit ‘Time Has Run out’ for Charlie Gard” please click HERE)
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