Charlie Gard

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.

Again you are right Rigby

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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.

I didn't hear Any Answers Rigby and Iam but your observations mirror what I was thinking. Whilst obviously "experts" in any chosen field do not have all the answers, they seem to be disparaged by public and media alike in the present climate.

I heard Any Answers Rigby, that final call was heart rending and for me, put all the complex issues involved simply. I also agree with your comments about the implications of this case and the constant publicity on staff and other families at GOSH
It's too simplistic to say it won't affect clinical treatment imo.
I'm sure staff continue to work professionally but they, their patients and patients families must be affected. It's tough enough to be in their shoes under any circumstances but to have to go into work, or into the hospital to be with a sick child where you may also be involved in significant treatment decisions with medics at present must be even more difficult.

This case is receiving such attention because of the court case , because the media roll it out around the clock , some choose to watch and read all they can google, others do not, some come down on one side some on the other side, again others do not, I cannot see how this case is affecting the treatment of the children in the hospital

lim not talking about the friends of GOSH obviously but the overall media coverage and emphasis on this one case to the excludion of all others.

As a friend of GOSH I assure you all the children have our thoughts and sympathy

Not rage but the - sorry

I think the impact on other parents both in GOSH and elsewhere is one of the elephants in the room- parents wondering if they fought hard enough, if they can trust the medical staff? Feeling guilty - did anyone hear the heart rendering phone call at the end of Any Answers today? No matter how sympathetic we might feel for CG's parents, society has a responsibility to all its sick children and their parents not just this family as sad as it all is. Imagine being a parent with a child in PICU at GOSH at the moment. Imagine being the staff there, the lawyers - imagine hearing the family's spokesman speaking of Charlie being held a prisoner by rage state. I'm not criticising the parents but I am saying there are many others to feel sympathy for and their ( the others) lives are being made harder than they need be if we just cast our thoughts and sympathy in one direction.

I would think they're breathing great sighs of relief! Who on earth would want all that glaring publicity?

This is a heart rending situation and I feel for the parents, but I wonder how other parents are feeling who have gone through, or going through a similar situation (not unknown in my experience) without the high profile media attention.