President Donald Trump is offering help to the parents of baby Charlie Gard in their attempt to get medical treatment in the United States. Charlie Gard is suffering from mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome, a rare genetic disorder and has the RRM2B strain. The infant continues to stay on life support after Chris Gard and Connie Yates lost their long battle last week in International Court of Human Rights. His parents had requested the court not to turn off Charlie's life- support and to allow them to take Charlie to the U.S to try an experimental treatment.
The court denied the parents request granting doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London to shut off, 10 month- old, Charlie's life support and let him die.
Growing support
Charlie and his parents have been gaining international attention in their plight to keep the baby alive and be allowed to do everything possible for him. President Trump learned of the situation of baby Charlie and tweeted his support and offered the family help. President Trump stated, " If we can help little Charlie Gard, as per our friends in the U.K and the Pope, we would be delighted to do so," Trump said.
If we can help little #CharlieGard, as per our friends in the U.K. and the Pope, we would be delighted to do so.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 3, 2017
Pope Francis has also given his support to Chris Gard and Connie Yates and their son.
Pope Francis believes the parents should be allowed try to everything possible for their child. In a statement released by Greg Burke, Director of the Holy See Press Office, Burke stated," Pope Francis prays for Charlie Gard's parents and hope that their desire to accompany and care for their own child to the end is not ignored," Burke said.
Crowds of people have also begun gathering outside Buckingham Palace.They are protesting the court's decision not to save Charlie. Protesters are shouting, "Save Charlie Gard," and carrying signs an effort to gain the British government's attention to intervene and allow the baby treatment in the United States.
Ethical questions
Charlie Gard medical treatment and right to life case has also brought many ethical questions into play. Parental rights vs medical care and the well-being of a child and if there is a possible treatment to save the child life should it be used or should the child be allowed the right to die with dignity. There have been many cases that parents have been charged with medical neglect of their children, denying them care and a child dies.
An example is Timothy and Sarah Johnson of Plymouth, Minnesota who were both arrested for the death of their son Seth, 7, in March 2016. Seth's parents knew he wasn't feeling well and instead of getting him medical care, they prayed over him. His parents left him with his 16 year- old brother so they could go away for the weekend.
The little boy died from pancreatitis and acute sepsis, never seeing a doctor. The Johnsons were charged in his death but failed to appear in court. The couple fled to New Zealand and are waiting for extradition back to Minnesota.
In the case of baby Charlie his parents are doing everything humanly possible to help their son and a court and doctors orders his life- support turned off without even trying. All Charlie's parent's want is this last chance to treat their son and raised $1.8 million dollars for his care. The experimen is being used on another child in the U.S.
Artuirto Estopinan, 6, who is suffering from the same rare genetic disorder and has the TK2 strain is receiving the experimental treatment.
Estopinan is undergoing nucleoside therapy and has shown improvement since he started. nucleoside therapy is the same treatment Charlie's parents want to try.
It is the hope that the doctors will listen to President Trump and Pope Francis and give Charlie a chance.
