Pope Francis has called for the parents of critically-ill baby, Charlie Gard, to be allowed to accompany and care for their child 'until the end'.
The pontiff is following Charlie’s case with “affection and emotion” a Vatican statement on Sunday (2 July) evening said.
The statement, delivered by Greg Burke Director of the Holy See Press Office, added that the Pope is praying for the baby’s parents and hopes “that their desire to accompany and care for their own child to the end is not ignored.”
Last week, Charlie’s parents, Chris Gard and Connie Yates, lost their appeal to the European court of human rights, the final stage in a long legal fight to take him to the US for trial therapy, meaning Great Ormond Street hospital could withdraw his life support and allow him to die. Following the ruling, the couple were also told they would not be allowed to take their son home to die.
The hospital granted the couple more time with their son on Friday.
On Sunday, hundreds of protesters gathered outside Buckingham Palace on Sunday to protest against the European Court’s decision to allow Charlie’s life-sustaining treatment to be withdrawn.
Speaking on Friday, Yates said: “We are really grateful for all the support from the public at this extremely difficult time. We’re making precious memories that we can treasure forever with very heavy hearts. Please respect our privacy while we prepare to say the final goodbye to our son Charlie.”
Meriella Enoc, the head of the Vatican's pediatric clinic Bambino Gesù, said in a press release today (3 July) that they would be willing "to welcome their child [Charlie Gard] for as long as he lives."
On 28 June, Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, said: "We must do what advances the health of the patient, but we must also accept the limits of medicine."
He added the situation of Charlie and his parents "has meant both pain and hope for all of us" and he assured them of his prayers. The important question to ask in this and other unfortunately similar cases, he said, is, "What are the best interests of the patient?"
Charlie, who is ten months old, has a rare genetic condition, mitochondrial depletion syndrome, that causes progressive muscle weakness and brain damage and doctors want to stop his life support. They say he can not see, hear, cry or swallow and is only breathing with the help of a ventilator.
Chris Gard and Connie Yates, from south west London, believe their son should undergo experimental medical therapy in the United States which they hope will prolong his life. Their son has been in intensive care at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital since last October. Specialists at the hospital say the experimental treatment would not help.
The parents have raised more than £1.3 million after launching a fundraising appeal to help pay for medical bills in the US.
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