Charlie Gard

[Vinnie]

The plight of this wee lad is in the news a lot this morning.  Apparently, a Vatican hospital is able to help him, yet the NHS doctors state that he is too ill to travel.

What are folks thoughts?

[Paradox]

The plight of this wee lad is in the news a lot this morning.  Apparently, a Vatican hospital is able to help him, yet the NHS doctors state that he is too ill to travel.

What are folks thoughts?

You just want some sort of medical miracle to appear in cases like this.  Unfortunately, the doctors are likely to know best.  Trying to be objective about it, is the wee laddie going to have any quality of life as a result of any treatment that he can be given elsewhere, or is it more a case of the parents unbearable pain at the thought of having to let him slip away.  Being a parent myself, I cannot even begin to imagine the ordeal they are going through.

[Teuchter]

The first I heard of this story was of American right wingers using it as a stick to beat "socialised medicine".

The along came the Donald.

Reading a bit more, it is one of these impossible situations where all sides are doing their best. I assume the court intervention is ultimately along the same lines as an intervention to stop Plymouth Brethern denying a child a life saving operation - except in this case they determined that unnecessary suffering could be caused. 

Like @Paradox , I hope for a medical miracle, but in the meantime know too little to comment, except that I very much doubt that any one is being deliberately callous or difficult.

 

[Vinnie]

Agree with the sentiment that it must be the worst decision to ever have to make.

As a parent I understand the hope that a remedy can be found.  At the same time, any treatment wont lead to recovery and I would hate to think they are extending the kids pain in the slim hope that a permanent remedy might be found.

If Great Ormond Street feels there is no more they can do, despite being experts, they should release the wee lad to whoever can thinks they can help - Im sure the parents know the risks, and accept that GOS cant/shouldnt be held responible for any bad outcome during the transfer 

 

[Superally]

Difficult decision for the Court to make here. However the best interests of the child comes first, over and above the interests of the parents or the Hospital who both equally feel they are also acting the child's best interests. I'm not necessarily convinced that any revolutionary treatment will be as beneficial as claimed and in some ways there is a element of mercenary overtones that I dislike. But are the parents wrong to cling on to the last vestiges of hope - I think not and I cant blame them. For me, I cant honestly see poor wee Charlie's quality of life improving and he is only likely to deteriorate further causing him additional distress. I feel he should be allowed to pass with a element of dignity and respect and without the circus baying from the polarised sidelines. It's utterly tragic

[Piracy]

Difficult stuff. We all want our kids to be healthy and happy.

[Teuchter]

As this goes on, I am becoming less and less impressed with his parents. Giving the benefit of the doubt, not everyone is built to cope with the spotlight that they are under - although it is one that they apparently sought out. There is also the possibility they are being badly advised or even cynically getting taken for a ride.

[Superally]

I suspect its the latter, the only people to gain are lawyers. The parents are utterly desperate and I think they are being taken advantage of by a badly advised legal team playing to the media.