We have some extremely sad news to share this evening, with reports that the European Court of Human Rights has rejected an appeal to keep Charlie Gard on life support.
This was the final strand of the appeal from Charlie’s parents, Connie Yates and Chris Gard, who were desperately seeking to keep the 10-month-old alive.
Little Charlie, who has a rare illness, was being treated in Great Ormond Street Hospital. However, experts there applied to the British courts for permission to take the tot off life support, claiming he will never have any quality of life.
At every turn, devoted parents Connie and Chris fought the GOSH experts, insisting that their son showed signs of being responsive.
After hearing about an experimental treatment available in the United States, the parents launched a fundraising campaign in the hopes of bringing him abroad, to give him one last chance of life.
The High Court in England originally ruled in favour of the GOSH experts, claiming that taking Charlie off life support would allow him to ‘die with dignity’.
Connie and Chris appealed the decision, but three judges in the Supreme Court upheld the previous ruling.
Charlie’s parents vowed to fight the case every step of the way, and eventually brought their legal battle to Europe’s highest court.
Last week, ECHR judges requested for Charlie’s life support to continue while they considered whether or not to take on his case; this evening, the devastating news broke that they would not be taking the matter any further.
Court press summary lifting Charlie Gard stay. End of treatment lawful. Thoughts now with family. pic.twitter.com/Oqv4Jx5KSP
— Matthew O'Grady (@mattjogrady) June 27, 2017
Charlie’s case has touched hearts all over the world, and so, naturally, the reaction across social media this evening has been one of outrage and upset.
“Devastating news for this family,” wrote one Twitter user. “So sad it came to this.”
Meanwhile, another added: “No one should be denied the right of getting help for their son. Absolute tragedy – f**k is wrong with this world?”
Our hearts go out to Connie, Chris and Charlie in the wake of this most harrowing news.
