Charlie Gard to be moved to a hospice to die, British judge rules

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

#WORLD NEWS
JULY 27, 2017 / 5:28 AM / 11 MINUTES AGO

Charlie Gard to be moved to a hospice to die, British judge rules

Guy Faulconbridge and Kate Holton

LONDON (Reuters) - Charlie Gard will spend his final hours in a hospice before the ventilator that keeps him alive is turned off, a judge ruled on Thursday, after a harrowing legal battle that prompted a debate over who has the moral right to decide the fate of a sick child.

Charlie's distraught parents had been trying to find a medical team that could look after him in a hospice for several days so that they could bid farewell to him just days before his first birthday, which is due on Aug. 4.

A judge had given the parents until noon to reach an agreement with Great Ormond Street Hospital about spending more time in a hospice, but no compromise was reached so a judge ruled that Charlie's artificial ventilation should be turned off.

"It is not in Charlie's best interests for artificial ventilation to continue to be provided to him, and it is therefore lawful and in his best interests for it to be withdrawn," High Court judge Nicholas Francis said in an order.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-baby-idUSKBN1AC1C1

[MineralMan]

1. What a pity this all had to be publicized world-wide.

I'm sure the child's "distraught parents" never wanted that kind of exposure. Surely they did not.

[democrank]

2. What a heart-wrenching situation.

The parents must be devastated. And that precious child....

[hamsterjill]

3. +1

Heartbreaking all the way around.

God speed, sweet Charlie. God speed.