The U.K. court’s consistent denial of the rights of Charlie Gard’s parents sparked outrage Wednesday from Arizona GOP Rep. Trent Franks and others on social media.
Franks and Ohio GOP Rep. Brad Wenstrup originally introduced a bill to grant Gard U.S. residency when the team of international medical experts examined Gard for the possibility of treatment. Gard’s residency and the medical examination came to naught Monday, when Chris Gard and Connie Yates withdrew their appeal to have their son treated in light of the fact that Gard’s condition had deteriorated beyond hope of improvement.
“This was largely a decision by the courts and hospitals that abrogated the parents’ rights and, no matter who was best at predicting the outcome, the people who made many ultimate decisions here were not those closest to Charlie and who loved him most,” Franks told The Daily Caller News Foundation. “It should be a great warning to all of us that when we get these questions, of life and death, in the hands of strangers, we begin to diminish the preciousness of each life. And of all the things as a human family we must do, it is to emphasize the priceless worth of every last little baby or human being. To do otherwise is to diminish the humanity of all of us.”
The U.K. high court barred Gard from potentially life-saving treatment, blocked him and his parents from traveling to the U.S. and denied the parents’ last wish to bring Gard home for a “few days of tranquility” before dying. Gard will now die in hospice, and congressmen and pro-life advocates took to social media to express grief and outrage on behalf of Gard and his family.
Our hearts weep for #CharlieGard Our prayers are w/ him. Pls read & ask WHY govt should have power to decide who lives & dies. It’s wrong. https://t.co/MsvoJBqJyO
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) July 24, 2017
Franks told TheDCNF that the court’s denial of all of the parents’ requests for their son, as well as its judgement that Gard’s life was not worth living, was an outrage reminiscent of one of humanity’s darkest hours.
This is an outrageous outcome. Life needs to be cherished – an international throng agrees. Pray for this family. https://t.co/9cN1XmNz1y
— Rep. Trent Franks (@RepTrentFranks) July 26, 2017
“If our first and foremost goal and value is to protect innocent human life, then it’s not just about those who have the most erudite qualifications making that decision. It’s about those whose motivations are the most unimpeachable making those decisions,” Franks said.
Franks also noted that the Nazi’s Final Solution began with a similar decision by German doctors to euthanize a mentally handicapped boy because, in their judgement, his life was not worth living. Decisions like that potentially open doors to despicable atrocities, according to Franks.
“Here’s the thing that’s of most consequence here – when we let this elitist mindset that the experts, regardless of their connection to the victim, should hold sway over his or her life we open a door that has been open before, and we have seen what’s inside and it can be very horrifying,” Franks told The DCNF. “And in my judgment we should make sure that we don’t open the wrong doors.”
It’s beyond disturbing how many liberals are completely unsympathetic, even elated, at the govt death sentence imposed on #CharlieGard.
— Dan Bongino (@dbongino) July 24, 2017
“I want to express my most profound sympathy, prayers, and very warmest wishes to all those who love Charlie Gard, especially his mom and dad. I think the councils of eternity will bring them together again, and all will yet be well,” Franks said.
Justice Francis, presiding over Gard’s case, approved plans for Gard’s hospice care Thursday. Gard’s time of death will be kept private. Gard’s life, though short, held meaning and exemplified the precious and fragile nature of the gift of human life, according to Franks.
“Whether we realize it or not, we’re all lying down right there beside Charlie,” Franks said.
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