Church comment on final ruling on treatment of baby Charlie Gard

CCN
Jun 28th, 2017

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A spokesperson from the Catholic Church issued the following statement on the latest and final ruling on the case of the life-saving treatment of baby Charlie Gard this morning.

“The decision made today by the European Court of Human Rights definitively ruling that baby Charlie Gard cannot undergo any further treatment is heartrending, most particularly for his parents and family. In this difficult case, all sides have sought to act with integrity and for Charlie’s good as they see it. Understandably, Charlie’s parents wish to do everything to save and improve Charlie’s life. We hope and pray that in the wake of this decision, they are able as a family to find peace over the coming days and weeks. We also encourage the Catholic community to pray for Charlie, his parents, and all those that have been caring for him.

“Sadly, prolonged terminal illness is part of the human condition. We should never act with the deliberate intention to end a human life, including the removal of nutrition and hydration so that death might be achieved. We do, sometimes, however, have to recognise the limitations of what can be done, while always acting humanely in the service of the sick person until the time of natural death occurs.”

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. Specialists at Great Ormond Street Hospital believed Charlie has no chance of survival and decided not to continue life support. His parents lost their challenge at Supreme Court. The European Court of Human Rights agreed, concluding that further treatment would "continue to cause Charlie significant harm."

and the statement from the Pontifical Council for Life Issues:

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/06/29/vaticans_academy_for_life_issues_statement_on_charlie_gard/1322138