Charlie Gard, the infant whose battle for life thrust the issues of parental rights and socialized medicine into the global spotlight, died in hospice Friday.
The U.K. high court and The Great Ormond Street Hospital denied Chris Gard and Connie Yates their last wish Thursday to take 11-month-old Gard home to die in peace. Ultimately, over the course of two separate trials, Charlie Gard was sentenced to die in hospice and has since passed away, according to Daily Mail. He never made it to his first birthday, only seven days away.
“Our beautiful little boy has gone, we are so proud of you Charlie,” Yates said.
Gard’s parents battled with the U.K. courts since February 2017 to seek treatment for their son in the U.S., but were barred from travel. Chris Gard and Yates withdrew their second appeal to seek treatment for for Gard on Monday, as Gard had deteriorated past the point of improvement during the delay caused by the court’s intervention.
Gard’s case, and his parent’s battle to fight the court’s claim that their son’s life was not worth trying to save, sparked international outrage on the family’s behalf. President Donald Trump and Pope Francis offered to help Gard.
Saddened to hear of the passing of Charlie Gard. Karen & I offer our prayers & condolences to his loving parents during this difficult time.
— Vice President Pence (@VP) July 28, 2017
U.S. congressmen granted Gard U.S. residency in an attempt to allow him to receive treatment in the U.S. Various pro-life advocacy groups petitioned Gard’s hospital to allow his family to seek treatment for him elsewhere. Several pro-life groups, including The Catholic Association (TCA), Americans United for Life, and March for Life, issued statements of solidarity with Gard’s family in the wake of his death.
“Our hearts go out to the Gard family, who not only have suffered the loss of their precious baby boy, but have had to endure the interference and obstruction of the courts and British health system in their fight for their child’s life,” said Maureen Ferguson, TCA Senior Policy Advisor, in a statement provided to The Daily Caller News Foundation.
“Whether one agrees with the Gard’s decision to pursue experimental treatment or not, this excruciating decision should have belonged to his loving and devoted parents. There was no apparent compelling justification for the courts to override and replace the unique parental bond of love in this case, which has only added to the heartbreak of Charlie’s passing. The international response to the plight of this baby is a beautiful testament to the irreplaceable value of one human life.”
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