Catholic World News

UK officials resist diplomatic pressure to allow treatment of Charlie Gard

July 05, 2017

Despite diplomatic pressure, officials at London’s Greater Ormond Street Hospital say that they cannot allow 10-month-old Charlie Gard to be moved to another hospital in Rome or in the US for medical treatment.

Although the Vatican-run Bambino Gesu Hospital in Rome has offered free medical care for the child and US President Donald Trump has promised to arrange the same at an American institution, officials at Greater Ormond Street say that “legal reasons” prevent them from allowing a move.

British foreign secretary Boris Johnson has offered the same explanation to his Italian counterpart, Angelino Alfano, to explain why his government will not intervene to allow for the child’s transfer.

British courts have ruled that the hospital should remove Charlie Gard from a life-support system, despite his parents’ wish to pursue experimental treatment for the boy’s rare genetic disorder. The European Court of Human Rights has confirmed the British courts’ rulings.

 


For all current news, visit our News home page.


 
Further information:
Sound Off! CatholicCulture.org supporters weigh in.

All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!

  • Posted by: Chestertonian - Jul. 05, 2017 9:02 PM ET USA

    Great Ormond is hiding behind the court decision. Like Pontius Pilate, washing hands of responsibility at the same time they impose a death sentence. No morals, no ethics, and no respect for the child or his parents. Socialized medicine and secular humanism at their worst. Pray for God's divine mercy to pour down on them all!

  • Posted by: james-w-anderson8230 - Jul. 05, 2017 8:03 PM ET USA

    If the Academy for Life had not essentially agreed with the courts the result might have been different.

  • Posted by: stpetric - Jul. 05, 2017 6:47 PM ET USA

    Britons *are* allowed to leave the country to go to the assisted suicide "clinic" in Switzerland. The end result in that case and with the Gards is the same: A dead patient. Seems clear what constitutes a desriable treatment outcome in the UK these days.

  • Posted by: jackbene3651 - Jul. 05, 2017 6:31 PM ET USA

    The UK and the EU are determined to murder this child and snub the parents.