Charlie Gard.

[Bigbad]

7 clinicians and researchers have now signed a letter stating that Charlie’s brain condition could be improved, although “ideally” the treatment should first be tested on mice, but there is no time.

Charlie’s mother is saying that “he is not in pain and suffering.”

I look at this poor little scrap, listen to all the things that are wrong with him, and think it’s time to let him go.

Are his parents right to cling on to this new ‘hope’ and are they putting their son or themselves first?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-40535043

[youngmafbog]

Without having been in the same situation it is very difficult to answer that question. Whilst there is hope would you not want to grab it?

[Bigbad]

He can’t hear, see, move, cry or swallow, I can’t really see what hope there is.

[youngmafbog]

The hope is that there is a 'cure'.

I personally dont think there is any hope and the child should be let go but even having had to make that call on two dearly beloved dogs I found very difficult to make even though I knew it for the best. And I probably waited too long on those, under 'suggestions' from the vets they were ok when clearly they were not.

[ummmm]

There is always hope.

[douglas9401]

There's always hope where there's denial.

[anneasquith]

Please God let this baby die in peace.

[Prudie]

I am not the parents and might think differently if I were but I have always thought he should be let go. The guy from US who claims the treatment worked on his son showed a child completely strapped into a contraption and was clearly holding his head up for the photo. I think it's very cruel. Even the best medical intervention is never going to make Charlie anything other than severely disabled.

[bednobs]

i dont get why the court ordered removal of treatment hasnt happened

[jakep]

I think the best thing for Charlie is to let him go and be in peace. His condition is not compatible with a life, an existence is possible.

[emmie]

if i was his parent i would move heaven and earth as they are doing to get him treatment, i would imagine its very hard letting a child go even in his condition.

[jambutty]

How does his mother know he is not suffering - don't the doctors say he is?

[maggiebee]

Sadly I feel the parents are in complete denial. However, maybe I would be exactly the same if it was my child.

[albaqwerty]

I think and hope most parents would go to hell and back to help their child.

A hugely distressing and upsetting situation

[marval]

I think it would be kinder lo let him go. It is difficult when it is your child though. I understand they don't want to lose him, but surely it is time to do the best for Charlie.

[hereIam]

Personally I think they are being selfish and cruel keeping him alive - not a popular opinion I guess, but it's how I feel ..

[albaqwerty]

too many 'what if's' aren't there.

What if the Court grants the hospital's request and it doesn't work?
What if they had withdrawn life support and 5 years down the line, it's proved that that 'hope' could have given him a better quality of life?
(I know 5 years is pushing it)

[bhg481]

hereiam - I'm with you. There is no thought being given to what happens to him after they're dead or incapable of looking after him. Having said that, there are some situations in life which you've actually got to experience before you're fully qualified to comment on them and, I'm glad to say, I don't fall into that category for this situation.

[Gromit]

This case reminds me of little Ashya King, the little boy that was being denied lifesaving treatment by Southampton Hospital, and his parents were arrested when they took their son abroad to save his life.

Guess what, three years on and he is cancer-free and alive. And the Proton treatment that Southampton dismissed as quackery and a false hope, is now available in this country.

The life of your child is worth fighting for. And Experts have been proven wrong many times before.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/ashya-king-is-cancer-free-9813409

[goodgoalie]

I'm with A H Clough:
'Thou shalt not kill; but needst not strive
Officiously to keep alive'

[ladybirder]

I think GOSH is doing the right thing sending the 'new' evidence back to the High Court on Monday. If the High Court rules that Charlie's life support should be removed then I think they should do it straight away this time and not be influenced by the parent's refusal to face the truth. I truly believe that the staff at GOSH would move heaven and earth if they thought there was anything more they could do to make that little boy's life worth living.