Charlie Gard’s parents are preparing to say a final goodbye to their baby son after a High Court judge said his life support treatment should be withdrawn soon after he is moved to a hospice.
Chris Gard and Connie Yates had asked for more time with their son after he is transferred from Great Ormond Street Hospital, but Mr Justice Francis said doctors can stop providing life support treatment shortly after 11-month-old Charlie arrives at the hospice.
An order issued by court officials on Thursday and drawn up by the judge set out arrangements for Charlie’s final hours, which will “inevitably result in Charlie’s death within a short period thereafter”.
Charlie Gard (Family handout/PA)
The couple have said previously they do not expect Charlie to survive until his first birthday on August 4.
Ms Yates hit out at Great Ormond Street Hospital which she said had “denied us our final wish”.
“We just want some peace with our son – no hospital, no lawyers, no courts, no media – just quality time with Charlie away from everything to say goodbye to him in the most loving way,” she said in a statement.
“I’m shocked that after all we’ve been through, they won’t allow us this extra time.”
(Family handout/PA)
A hospital spokeswoman said GOSH had “tried absolutely everything” to accommodate the couple’s wishes, but “the risk of an unplanned and chaotic end to Charlie’s life is an unthinkable outcome for all concerned and would rob his parents of precious last moments with him”.
The statement concluded: “Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to Chris and Connie, and we hope that their privacy is respected at this devastating time for their family.”
Mr Justice Francis has drawn five months of litigation to a close by making the order, which will see Charlie leave the London hospital where he has been cared for since late 2016, and move to a hospice.
Charlie Gard (Family handout/PA)
The hospital statement added: “We deeply regret that profound and heartfelt differences between Charlie’s doctors and his parents have had to be played out in court over such a protracted period.
The statement said it had been a “distressing process for all concerned”, adding that nobody could fault Charlie’s parents for tirelessly advocating “for what they sincerely believed was right for their son”.
The judge did not reveal when Charlie will move and has said the hospice cannot be identified in media reports.
Doctors at Great Ormond Street and Charlie’s parents had initially disagreed over whether Charlie, who suffers from a rare genetic condition, should be allowed to travel to the United States for a therapy trial.
(John Stillwell/PA)
Mr Justice Francis in April ruled in favour of the hospital which said the therapy was experimental and would not help Charlie. He said Charlie should be allowed to die with dignity.
Charlie’s parents subsequently failed to overturn his ruling in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court in London.
They also failed to persuade European Court of Human Rights judges to intervene.
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