Charlie Gard’s parents lose final legal European Court fight to take terminally-ill baby to US for treatment – meaning his life support will be switched off
TRAGIC tot Charlie Gard cannot be taken for treatment in the US after Europe's top court said it would not intervene in the case.
European Court of Humans Rights judges said their decision to back British courts — who had ruled that life support for the 10-month-old should stop — was "final".
Docs at Great Ormond Street hospital want to allow little Charlie, who suffers from a rare genetic condition and has brain damage, to "die with dignity".
But parents Chris Gard and Connie Yates, from West London, argued that he could be taken for experimental therapy in the States.
Britain's top courts had already ruled in favour of doctors — a decision now backed by judges in Strasbourg.
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A statement issued by the European Court of Human Rights said it "endorsed in substance the approach by the domestic courts and thus declared the application inadmissible."
It was most likely Charlie was "being exposed to continued pain, suffering and distress" by being kept alive and further treatment with "no prospects of success... would offer no benefit".
"The decision is final", it read, adding that the full text of its judgement will be released tomorrow.
Charlie's life support is now expected to be switched off within days.
Ms Yates told Sky News she found the result "upsetting". Although they are yet to issue a full comment, she and Chris's Twitter campaign account Charlie's Fight retweeted a number of emotional messages.
"The #CharlieGard case is terrible. Shame on the UK judges allowing him to die, shameful, terrible decision", one said.
Another read: "Very evil people..... Sentencing a child to death! What an anti-child pagan society we are. I pray for #CharlieGard!"
Our thoughts are with Charlie's parents on receipt of this news that we know will be very distressing for them
Great Ormond Street Hospital spokesperson
A High Court judge in April ruled against a trip to America and in favour of doctors in London.
It concluded that life support treatment should end and said Charlie should be allowed to "die with dignity".
Three Court of Appeal judges upheld that ruling and three Supreme Court justices dismissed a further challenge by the heartbroken couple.
Specialists in the US offered a therapy called nucleoside. Its effectiveness is the subject of fierce debate in the medical world.
Charlie's parents raised nearly £1.4 million to fund his care after launching an appeal on the GoFundMe website four months ago.
Well-wishers have continued to give money despite the ECHR ruling.
Ms Yates had said on the fundraising page that if the family lost their case, the money would be used to set up a charity for mitochondrial depletion syndromes.
''We'd like to save other babies and children because these medications have been proven to work and we honestly have so much belief in them", she wrote.
''If Charlie doesn't get this chance, we will make sure that other innocent babies and children will be saved."
Responding to today's decision, a Great Ormond Street spokesperson said: "Our thoughts are with Charlie's parents on receipt of this news that we know will be very distressing for them.
"Today's decision by the European Court of Human Rights marks the end of what has been a very difficult process and our priority is to provide every possible support to Charlie's parents as we prepare for the next steps.
"There will be no rush by Great Ormond Street Hospital to change Charlie's care and any future treatment plans will involve careful planning and discussion."
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