Judges sentence baby to death
Judges at the European Court of Human Rights have rejected a plea from
the parents of terminally-ill baby Charlie Gard to intervene in his
case.
Chris Gard and Connie Yates lost their final legal bid to take their son to the US for treatment.
Specialists at Great Ormond Street Hospital believe Charlie has no chance of survival.
The court agreed, concluding that further treatment would "continue to cause Charlie significant harm".
Charlie is thought to be one of 16 children in the world to have mitochondrial depletion syndrome, a condition which causes progressive muscle weakness and brain damage.
His parents had previously seen a Supreme Court challenge to continue Charlie's life support fail.
European Court judges have now concluded it was most likely Charlie was "being exposed to continued pain, suffering and distress" and undergoing experimental treatment with "no prospects of success... would offer no benefit".
They said the application presented by the parents was "inadmissible" and said the court's decision was "final".
The court "also considered that it was appropriate to lift the interim measure" which had required doctors to continue providing life support treatment to Charlie.
It is likely Charlie's life support machine will be turned off within a few days following discussions between the hospital and his family.
Chris Gard and Connie Yates lost their final legal bid to take their son to the US for treatment.
Specialists at Great Ormond Street Hospital believe Charlie has no chance of survival.
The court agreed, concluding that further treatment would "continue to cause Charlie significant harm".
Charlie is thought to be one of 16 children in the world to have mitochondrial depletion syndrome, a condition which causes progressive muscle weakness and brain damage.
His parents had previously seen a Supreme Court challenge to continue Charlie's life support fail.
European Court judges have now concluded it was most likely Charlie was "being exposed to continued pain, suffering and distress" and undergoing experimental treatment with "no prospects of success... would offer no benefit".
They said the application presented by the parents was "inadmissible" and said the court's decision was "final".
The court "also considered that it was appropriate to lift the interim measure" which had required doctors to continue providing life support treatment to Charlie.
It is likely Charlie's life support machine will be turned off within a few days following discussions between the hospital and his family.
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