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Charlie Gard

(742 Posts)
devongirl Sun 09-Jul-17 18:18:35

My heart absolutely bleeds for his parents, but I can't help thinking it's time to let him die in peace..

gillybob Sun 16-Jul-17 10:14:23

I listened to Any Answers yesterday afternoon too and agree some of the calls were heartbreaking (especially the last one) . I wonder if CG's parents would agree to talk to people such as these ladies who have had to make very similar heart wrenching decisions for their own children. I do hope they managed to talk to the last caller off air. She sounded very very upset.

merlotgran Wed 19-Jul-17 12:49:14

Apparently Charlie Gard has now been granted legal permanent residence in America so he can receive treatment.

Surely it's better for all concerned if he is allowed to go?

Anniebach Wed 19-Jul-17 13:23:02

Seems best for all merlotgran, the parents, hospital ,if he is to die in a few days Then does it matter if the little mite dies in the hospital , in America or an air ambulance

devongirl Wed 19-Jul-17 13:33:27

Just wondering where that info came from Merlotgran? - can't see anything on BBC...

merlotgran Wed 19-Jul-17 13:39:43

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/07/19/charlie-gard-granted-permanent-resident-status-us-can-get-medical/

It's in most of the papers I think, devongirl

Rigby46 Wed 19-Jul-17 14:43:54

Ummm- not sure what's really happening. Some are saying that there is an amendment to grant permanent residency to the three of them but that it is an amendment to a bill covering a range of other things that had yet to be voted on by both Houses. Following that, even if it happens, apart from the legal issues and the logistics of travel, DR H has still to get FDA approval for the treatment. What a heartbreaking mess it all is

Rigby46 Wed 19-Jul-17 15:04:30

CNN is probably the best source for the story - I can't manage a link but my post above is broadly what they are saying. It is a Congressional committeee that has passed the amendment that is now added to the bill that has to be voted on by the Hoyse and the Senate. The bill is a very controversial one and may take months to get through, if at all. This is just wicked posturing by the radical pro lifers in the US for their own ends and imo they care nothing about Charlie or is parents who are just pawns in their games

Tegan2 Wed 19-Jul-17 15:24:31

Am I wrong to think that, if the poor baby dies in the meantime, these people will say that they could have saved him?

Rigby46 Wed 19-Jul-17 15:38:37

Yes of course they will. GOSH are in a hiding to nothing and the way much if the press are reporting it in this country ( let alone the States) is a disgrace. The DM is of course, as usual, leading the pack with its inaccuracies but others are not far behind. At least the Indie used the word 'reportedly' when reporting the story.

Christinefrance Wed 19-Jul-17 19:17:00

You are exactly right Rigby how can they use this poor child and his parents for their political ends.
Shame on them.

Iam64 Wed 19-Jul-17 20:01:29

The Court was sufficiently concerned to make sure Charlie had an independent voice to represent him in the conflict between his parents and GOSH to appoint a Children's Guardian. CG's are usually appointed in proceedings that involve the Children Act. The individual will appoint and instruct a solicitor to represent Charlie.
I'm stunned that right wing US politicians see it as appropriate to get involved in this situation. Presumably, they dislike state intervention in the form of promoting the interests of a very sick baby when the dreadful state medical system doesn't simply do as instructed but takes what it considers to be the least worst option for this baby.
I have every sympathy with the parents. I haven't read any posts here that criticise them. I do not believe these US politicians have the interests of Charlie or his parents at heart. It feels like over emotional posturing to me.

Rigby46 Wed 19-Jul-17 20:49:54

The US politicians, the US pastor and a US attorney that have got involved all have exactly the same things in common - virulently pro-life and and anti Obamacare. They are basically evil and using the pain and suffering of these parents and child to further their own ends. And, pace any RC on MN, the Pope had no damned right to interfere either. The whole lot of them can put their own house in order first and butt out of this case.

Iam64 Wed 19-Jul-17 21:19:13

Rigby46 - you're right of course, the US politicians should butt out and put their own health care in order. Not a chance, they see European state funded health care as a centimetre away from Communism or even Socialism ?
I'm disappointed in the Pope. I'm not a Catholic but I'd respected and warmed to this Pope

Rigby46 Wed 19-Jul-17 21:23:08

Yes and the Pope could spend more time making sure all the child abuse issues are sorted out in his church

Christinefrance Wed 19-Jul-17 21:48:54

Again you are right Rigby

Jalima1108 Wed 19-Jul-17 21:53:04

Those poor parents are so desperate to keep their child alive that they do not realise that they are being used by all these people with their ulterior motives.

Rigby46 Wed 19-Jul-17 22:12:23

I so agree Jalima - there are some truly evil people feeding on them at the moment.

Deedaa Wed 19-Jul-17 22:44:54

Americans seem convinced that this has happened because of our evil "Socialised Medicine" and that Charlie is being held prisoner by the government. The concept of the legal system being something separate seems to be beyond them, but a few of them have managed to grasp that Charlie wouldn't have lasted this long if he'd had to pay for hospital treatment over there. Hopefully we will get some sort of decision from the American doctor.

Rigby46 Thu 20-Jul-17 06:49:24

The case resumes on 24/25 July. The judge has a transcript from the meeting of all the doctors involved that took place on Tuesday. He has said he will rule on the 25th. The media ( mainstream and social) is full of misleading , ill informed rubbish which is only stirring up emotions and false hope. The fall out afterwards is going to be horrendous. When a case like this occurs in the future, there should be restricted reporting for the sake of the child and not this media circus that is not helping anyone but worse is causing great harm.

Anya Thu 20-Jul-17 06:56:17

I'm reading that Charlie has been granted US citizenship ship. The irony of this is beyond me.

It's a terrible situation and there are no winners here.

Rigby46 Thu 20-Jul-17 07:16:07

Anya he hasn't. I tried to explain it above - a US congressional committee has put forward an amendment to grant them permanent residency. Thiis amendment will be an amendment to a bill which is on a range of immigration matters. ( including the wall) which has to be passed by the House and Senats. Some informed commentators think this will take months, if it happens at all. The whole US involvement with little Charlie is coming from pro-lifers and the anti-Obama Care camps. Our right wing MSM are misreporting the story either because they just want to knock the NHS and/or because they are lazy journalists.

Anya Thu 20-Jul-17 07:20:33

Thanks Rigby I've been guilty of just reading the headlines re the citizenship thing. I've been more thorough reading up about this awful condition.

Anya Thu 20-Jul-17 07:29:24

I have read this document issued by GOSH a few days ago and it sums up the situation very clearly.

GOSH's position on Charlie Gard

Rigby46 Thu 20-Jul-17 07:31:30

Yes GOSH's position statement is very moving and clear isn't it?

Gagagran Thu 20-Jul-17 08:21:50

Yes it is Rigby - thank you for posting that.

The parents are thinking with their hearts and not their heads and wishful thinking comes into it too. It is awful for them but their judgment is clouded and little Charlie would not be even still be here but for GOSH. They will never accept the court's decision if it does not accord with them. Hugely sad.