Charlie Gard's Parents End Legal Fight to Save Him

It's 'too late,' their attorney tells a London court
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 24, 2017 8:49 AM CDT
Parents of Baby Charlie Gard: It's Too Late to Save Him
The parents of Charlie Gard, Connie Yates and Chris Gard, arrive at the High Court in London on Monday.   (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Little Charlie Gard's legal battle is over: His parents on Monday dropped their fight to move their baby from London to the US for experimental treatment, reports the AP. "Sadly, time has run out," said their attorney, per the Telegraph. Parents Chris Gard and Connie Yates made the decision after a new round of medical reports showed Charlie had indeed suffered irreversible muscular damage. "The parents' worst fears have been confirmed," the attorney said at London's High Court. "It is now too late to treat Charlie." The 11-month-old is at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital, and Monday's development means he will likely be taken off life support soon.

Charlie suffers from a rare condition called mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome that has left him blind, deaf, and unable to breathe on his own. His parents have been fighting for months to be allowed to transfer him to the US, but health authorities in the UK wouldn't allow it, saying the treatment would only be a futile prolonging of his pain. A string of courts ruled against the parents, and Monday's development ends the fight. "Charlie has waited patiently for treatment," said the family attorney, per the Guardian. "Due to delay, that window of opportunity has been lost." He added that the parents plan to set up a foundation in his honor. Donors worldwide had given money to cover the family's medical expenses. (More Charlie Gard stories.)

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